At last the fascinating game took a strong hold on him.

He enjoyed its risks and ventured, on a trifling hand, to bluff the company and secure a fair stake.

To his self-satisfaction intense and strong, he did it.
In the height of this feeling he began to think his luck was with him.
No one else had done so well.

Now came another moderate hand, and again he tried to open the jack-pot on it.

There were others there who were almost reading his heart, so close was their observation.
"I have three of a kind," said one of the players to himself.