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blood was warm enough, and ran its happy course through healthful veins; why should he want to quicken it with poisonous draughts? He knew something of cards, of course; he had seen the manipulation of them with » checks and coin and gold-dust so often and continuously of late that he knew the various games as well as any one. Indeed, he did not refuse to play upon occasion, or if he felt like it; he was no prude or fanatic, nor was he at all afraid of himself; he was his own master, but he was no gambler—that everybody knew—and he really never felt any desire to play.

There was a poker game in the room, which had just started. ' Two of the persons sitting at it Duke knew; the other two seemed to be late arrivals—one of them was clearly not a miner, or woi king-man, but from his dress and manner would be called a sport. The other stranger was of that nondescript cast which would not surprise a bystander to see it assume any shape at any moment. Duke seated himself on a bench by the players with his back against the wall, and listlessly watched the game while discussing the news of the day.

Presently his friend was unexpectedly called away, and as he rose to go he said: "Here, Duke, play my hand ; I'll be back directly," Duke assented, and for half an hour or so did little more than chip in and keep his place in the game.

His friend not returning, Duke gradually paid a Httle more attention to the game, and became really quite aroused when he found himself with a ver}' good hand at a moment when the two strangers entered upon some high betting.

" Fifty, is it?" said the sharper, for so we must denominate the sporting man. *' I will see it, and go a hundred better." It was now Duke's turn, who went in and raised the stake a hundred. The other, stranger passed himself out. " Five hundred better," exclaimed the sharper. " Take it," said Duke, who, sitting be