“S’pose I’m a crank,” laughed the other; “but all the guff I hear and see in the newspapers about baseball makes me weary; it sure does. Seems like ninety per cent. of the population has gone dippy about the game. Once on a time I was mistook for a pitcher I happened to look like. A gent blew up and called me by that ball tosser’s name and asked me how I was coming on at it. He didn’t believe me when I told him I’d never pitched a ball in my life. Why, I don’t know a curve from a wedge of restaurant pie.” “You’re a rare bird,” said Lefty. “I am, pal, and I’m rather proud of it.” “What’s your business, if it’s not too personal?” The young man hesitated and coughed behind his hand. “I’m a――a diamond cutter,” he answered. “That is, I have been, but I’ve had to give it up on account of my health. Too confining, you know. I’m not much on being confined,” he continued oddly. “You can see it has rather taken hold of me. My health isn’t just what it should be.” “I noticed you were unusually pale.” “That comes from confinement. A pill slinger told me it would be a good thing for me to get out into the country and find a job somewhere in the open air. I’m looking for work on a farm. The rural life for mine, far from the lure of high-cut swinging doors. Between us, pal, I’ve hit it up a bit too hard in my day. I always was a wild one,” he went on garrulously. “Even when I was a boy I touched too many of the high spots. I’ve been a mark, too. Ever play poker? Well, I’ve been the easiest dub you ever saw at that game. But I like it. Can’t seem to keep away from it. Every time I get a roll on hand I go searching for a game and someone to pass the velvet over to. Even now I’ve got a little wad of long green that’s burning in my pocket. Before you came along I was thinking I’d like to find three or four good sports and get up a little game.” “I don’t play poker――for blood,” said Lefty. “A bunch on the team are at it every chance they get; though, of course, they only play a little game.” “Oh, that would suit me. I don’t want to really gamble, you know. I’m a minister’s son.” Lefty refrained from saying that he was another. “Brought up in a straight-laced family,” Stranger went on. “My old man thought cards the tools of Satan. And my mother”――a cloud seemed to come to his face and his smile faded――“it broke her heart when she found out I was playing penny ante with a bunch of game lads. Mebbe that’s what finished her. The old gent didn’t last long after she was put away under the daisies.” “Then your father and mother are both dead?” “Both gone. But come, what’s the use to talk of things like that? Let’s see if we can’t find a couple of lonesome travelers looking for amusement. Let’s start something. A little game of poker to pass away――”