A group of men, sailors, ranchmen, and fruit venders were already playing.

Vandover approached and watched the game, very interested in watching the uncertain course of the marble jog-jogging among the pins.

The clear little note of the bell or the dry rattle as the marble settled quickly into one of the lucky pockets thrilled him from head to foot; his hands trembled, all at once his whole left side twitched sharply.
From that day the fate of the rest of Vandover's little money was decided.

In two weeks he had lost twenty dollars at bagatelle, obtaining the money by selling a portion of his bonds at a certain broker's on Montgomery Street.

As soon as he had begun to gamble again the old habits of extravagance had come back upon him.