Ain't frightened out by the cold ?" "Shouldn't wonder." Robie was busy at his desk, and not in humor for conversation on reminiscent lines.

The two old war-dogs at the board had settled down to one of those long, silent struggles which ensue when two champions meet.

In the silence which followed, the Judge was looking attentively at the back of the Colonel, and thinking that the old thief was getting about down to skin and bone.

He turned with a yawn to Robie, saying: "This cold weather must take hold of the old Colonel terribly, he's so damnably thin and bald, you know,--bald as a babe.

The fact is, the old Colonel ain't long for this world, anyway; think so, Hank ?" Robie making no reply, the Judge relapsed into silence for awhile, watching the cat (perilously walking along the edge of the upper shelf) and listening to the occasional hurrying footsteps outside.