"What?" he cried. "You propose that? Why, you didn't want to play a bigger game than a quarter limit at the start!" "Perhaps you are--er--right," admitted Mr. Slush. "I--er--don't deny it. But I have grown more--more interested, you understand. I--I don't mind playing a good game--now." "Well, then, if the other gentlemen say so, by the gods, we'll make it no limit!" Bloodgood almost shouted. The Frenchman bowed suavely, a slight smile curling the ends of his pointed mustache upward. "I haf not ze least--what you call eet?--ze least objectshong," he purred. "I don't mind," said the Englishman. Now there was great interest. Somehow, Frank felt that a climax was coming. He watched everything with deep interest. Luck continued to run against Bloodgood. To Frank's surprise, it was plain Mr. Slush was winning. This seemed to surprise and puzzle both the Englishman and the Frenchman. It was hard work to draw the little man in when Hazleton or Montfort dealt. On his own deal or that of Bloodgood, he seemed ready for anything. "By Jove!" whispered Frank, in Diamond's ear. "That man is not such a fool as I thought! I haven't been able to understand him at all, and I don't understand him now." At length there came a big jack-pot. It was passed round several times. Then Hazleton opened it on three nines. Bloodgood sat next. He had two pairs, aces up, and he raised instantly. Montfort was the next man. He held a pair of deuces, but he saw all that had been bet, and doubled the amount! Mr. Slush hesitated a little. He seemed ready to lay down, but finally braced up and came in, calling. Hazleton did not accept the call. He raised again. Bloodgood looked at his hand and cursed under his breath. It was just good enough to make him feel that he ought to make another raise, but he began to think there were other good hands out, and it was not possible to tell where continued raising would land him, so he "made good." With nothing but a pair of deuces in his hand, Montfort "cracked her up" again for a good round sum. The hair on the head of Mr. Slush seemed to stand. He swallowed and looked pale. Then he "made good." Hazleton had his turn again, and he improved it. For the next few minutes, Montfort and Hazleton had a merry time raising, but neither Slush nor Bloodgood threw up. "This is where they are sinking the knife in the suckers!" muttered Jack Diamond. Frank Merriwell said not a word. His eyes were watching every move. At last the betting stopped, and Slush picked up the pack to give out the cards. Hazleton called for two. He received them, and remained imperturbable. He had caught nothing with his three nines. Bloodgood had tumbled to the fact that he was "up against" threes, and he had discarded his pair of low cards, holding only the two aces. To these he drew a seven and two more aces!