Colonel, a game is won only when it is played'." "That's true enough." "Kings are a tolerable bother on earth," Maurice declared, trying to ease his wrists by holding them higher against his back.
"What do you know about them ?" "When I was in the army I often fell in with three or four of a night." "Eh ?--kings ?" "Yes; but usually I was up against aces or straight flushes." "Cards! Well, well; when you get down to the truth of the matter, real kings differ but little from the kings in pasteboard; right side up, or wrong side up, they serve the purpose of those who play them.

There's a poor, harmless devil back there," with a nod toward Bleiberg.

"He never injured a soul.

Perhaps that's it; had he been cruel, avaricious, sly, all of them would be cringing at his feet.

Devil take me--but I'm a soldier," he broke off abruptly; "it's none of my business." "Have you any titles ?" Maurice asked presently.
"Titles ?" The Colonel jerked around on his horse.