He appeared out of place amid the rough element jostling him, and more than one glanced at him curiously, a few swearing as he elbowed them aside.

Scarcely noticing this, he drew a cigar from his pocket, and stuck it unlighted between his teeth.

The large front room upstairs was ablaze with lights, every game in full operation and surrounded by crowds of devotees.

Tobacco smoke in clouds circled to the low ceiling, and many of the players were noisy and profane, while the various calls of faro, roulette, keno, and high-ball added to the confusion and to the din of shuffling feet and excited exclamations.

Hampton glanced about superciliously, shrugging his shoulders in open contempt--all this was far too coarse, too small, to awaken his interest.