"
"I'll never quit," replied the young man under his breath.
Meanwhile Kennedy and I paused on the way out to compare notes.
My report of the behaviour of the compass only confirmed him in
his opinion.
As we turned to the stairs we took in a full view of the room. A
faro-layout was purchasing Senator Danfield a new touring-car
every hour at the expense of the players. Another group was
gathered about the hazard board, deriving evident excitement,
though I am sure none could have given an intelligent account of
the chances they were taking. Two roulette-tables were now going
full blast, the larger crowd still about DeLong's. Snatches of
conversation came to us now and then, and I caught one sentence,
"De Long's in for over a hundred thousand now on the week's play,
I understand; poor boy--that about cleans him up."
"The tragedy of it, Craig," I whispered, but he did not hear.
With his hat tilted at a rakish angle and his opera-coat over his
arm he sauntered over for a last look.
"Any luck yet?" he asked carelessly.
"The devil--no," returned the boy.
"Do you know what my advice to you is, the advice of a man who
has seen high play everywhere from Monte Carlo to Shanghai?"
"What?"
"Play until your luck changes if it takes until to-morrow."
A supercilious smile crossed Senator Danfield's fat face.
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