And those petty losses soon began to grow larger and larger.

His money melted away rapidly, and still fortune frowned on him.
In vain Hodge counseled his friend to drop the game and stay away.
Such advice was now wasted on Frank, and it made him angry.
"It's too late!" he hotly declared.

"I am going to see the thing through!" And so the meshes of the snare closed around him..