"Dick can't give particulars." Briefly and concisely I told the colonel exactly what had happened.

He chewed his cigar, then spat it out with an unintelligible exclamation.
"Martin's no worse than others," he said.

"Blandy leans to crooked faro.
I've tried to stop that, anyway.

If Steele can, more power to him!" Sampson turned on his heel then and left me with a queer feeling of surprise and pity.
He had surprised me before, but he had never roused the least sympathy.
It was probably that Sampson was indeed powerless, no matter what his position.
I had known men before who had become involved in crime, yet were too manly to sanction a crookedness they could not help.
Miss Sampson had been standing in her door.

I could tell she had heard; she looked agitated.