Ten to one I should stop short in the middle and kick him." "That would spoil all the fun.

Try it on, any way, it'll be a nice little excitement to have young Innocent with us.

And now, Tom, where are blacks and reds; I'm just in the humour for a rubber, aren't you ?" The host produced from a locked desk a dirty and much-worn pack of cards, and the party sat down to play.
They played for penny points, and as Gus and Margetson were partners, it is hardly necessary to say that Drift and his ill-looking friend lost every game.
Before this amiable and congenial quartet separated, Gus had referred again to the scheme of getting Charlie to Gurley races, and got Drift to promise he would secure his victim next day.
Next day, accordingly, as Charlie was in the midst of a desperate game of fives with his friend Jim, a small boy came to him and said that Tom Drift wanted him.
"What for ?" demanded Charlie, who, since his talk with the elder Halliday, had felt somewhat "shy" about Tom.
"I don't know," said the boy.
"Your turn, Charlie," called out Jim from the end of the court.
Charlie took his turn while he was revolving on his answer to this mysterious summons.
"What does that child want ?" inquired Jim, with all the loftiness of a second-form boy speaking of a first.
"He says Tom Drift wants me." "Whew!" whistled Jim, who of course knew the whole mystery of the affair between his chum and Tom; "tell him to go to Jericho! Look out for yourself!" And so saying, he took his turn with the ball.
"That wouldn't do," said Charlie; "I don't want to rile him." "_I'd_ like to have a chance," retorted the implacable Jim.

"Well, then, tell him you can't come.

Here, young un, tell Tom Drift Charlie can't come.