Quite improperly, I felt sorry for him.

In me he thought he had found a victim; and that the loss of the few dollars he might have won should so deeply disturb him showed his need was great.

Almost at once he abandoned me and I went on deck.
When I returned an hour later to the smoking-room he was deep in a game of poker.
As I passed he hailed me gayly.
"Don't scold, now," he laughed; "you know I can't keep away from it." From his manner those at the table might have supposed we were friends of long and happy companionship.

I stopped behind his chair, but he thought I had passed, and in reply to one of the players answered: "Known him for years; he's set me right many a time.

When I broke my right femur 'chasin,' he got me back in the saddle in six weeks.