Entering the game room of the Corinthian a few steps behind young Middleton, Philip waited only long enough to see the boy plunge into play with all the crass ignorance and recklessness of a beginner, before he intervened. Standing at the youth’s elbow while he was staking and losing five-dollar gold pieces in swift succession at one of the roulette wheels, he said, in a tone audible only to the ear it was intended for: “Whose money is that you’re losing, Jackie?” The boy jumped as if he had been shot. Then he saw who it was who had spoken to him and began to beg: “You--you mustn’t stop me, Mr. Trask! I’ve _got_ to win--I tell you, I’ve just _got_ to!” Philip drew him aside. “Just how bad is it, Jack?” he asked. “I mean, how much are you short in the office?” “Oh, my God!--how did you know?” gasped the boy. “Never mind about that. How much is it?” “It’s--it’s over a hundred dollars.” “Well, don’t you know you haven’t a dog’s chance of getting it back in a place like this?” “But some of them win,” was the desperate plea. “Yes, and a great many more of them lose. When did you take the money from the office?” “L-last week.” “You called it borrowing, I suppose. But when you got your pay to-day, why didn’t you put it back?” “I don’t get enough; they’re only paying me seventy-five a month. I lost the money here, and I _had_ to come and try to get it back. The travelling auditor will be at the office in the morning to check us up, and then----” “I see. Jackie, there is nothing in this dizzy whirl for you or for anybody; I know, because I’m in it myself. I’ll make a bargain with you. How much did you say you are short?” “I--I took six twenties.” Philip drew a handful of yellow coins from his pocket. “This is the bargain, Jack. I’ll lend you the six twenties if you will promise me to quit this business for good and all. How about it? Is it a go?” The boy’s gratitude was almost dog-like in its frantic extravagance. “Will I promise? My God, if you only knew how I’ve suffered! I didn’t sleep a wink last night. And I’ll never forget this, the longest day I live, Mr. Trask! I didn’t mean to be a thief, but--” Philip saw Sheeny Mike, one of the game room spotter hawks, watching them narrowly. “Chase your feet out of this, Jack, and remember your promise,” he said; but the hawk had seen the passing of the gold pieces and he started in pursuit of the boy. Philip detained him with a hand on his shoulder. “Not this time, Mike; the kid is a friend of mine.” “To hell with you! That don’t get the house anything!”