Page:MacGrath--The luck of the Irish.djvu/82

 no! They'd starve to death. They ply generally between New York, Liverpool, and Cherbourg."

"Well, that's too bad. I thought of course there' d be a few sharks in this school of mackerel. I've been building for weeks on seeing the gambler held up by some handsome outsider and the foolish young man, traveling with the firm's money, paid back his losses. Shucks!"

"I don't believe you stand in much danger." Camden narrowed his eyes as the smoke from his cigarette volleyed past his cheek.

"They couldn't take a peek at a nickel of mine. This little old letter of credit," said William, slapping his coat pocket, "is for expenses only. I play a game of pinochle once in a while; but beyond that, nothing doing. There's no something-for-nothing on my program. Work and cards don't mix."

"True enough. I like to gamble for small stakes, just enough to make the game interesting. But there'll be no chance on board the Ajax. There is, however, a lot of sport in double canfield. You can knock half a day galley-west with a pack of cards. Drop into the smoke-room to-night and I'll teach you a game or two of solitaire."

"That 'll be fine. So long as I don't have to dig in my jeans, any kind of a game for mine."

"All right, then; any time after dinner. Good morning."

William did not leave the rail at once. He was puzzled. Anything which did not appear to come in the natural order of events made him suspicious.