Alpha Book

"Why, yes--as the stakes are not to amount to anything--"
"Gerald!"
"What?" he said uneasily.
"You promised me that you would not play again in my house!"
"I--I said, for more than I could afford--"
"No, you said you would not play; that is what you promised, Gerald."
"Well, I meant for high stakes; I--well, you don't want to drive me out
altogether--even from the perfectly harmless pleasure of playing for
nominal stakes--"
"Yes, I do!"
"W-why?" asked the boy in hurt surprise.
"Because it is dangerous sport, Gerald--"
"What! To play for a few cents a point--"
"Yes, to play for anything. And as far as that goes there will be no
such play as you imagine."
"Yes, there will--I beg your pardon--but Jack Ruthven said so--"
"Gerald, listen to me. A bo--a man like yourself has no business playing
with people whose losses never interfere with their appetites next day.
A business man has no right to play such a game, anyway. I wonder what
Mr. Neergard would say if he knew you--"
"Neergard! Why, he does know.


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