“But I still felt I had to do something to help though she wouldn’t accept the way I first offered.  I knew she needed money badly as she wasn’t able to work and I wanted to give her some of mine.  I knew I had plenty or would have next spring when I came of age.  But I was sure you wouldn’t let me have any of it now without knowing why and Larry wouldn’t lend me any either, sight unseen.  I wouldn’t have blamed either of you for refusing.  I haven’t deserved to be taken on trust.

“The only other way I knew of to get money quick was to play for it.  I have fool’s luck always at cards.  Last year I played a lot for money.  Larry knew and rowed me like the devil for it last spring.  No wonder.  He knew how Dad hated it.  So did I. I’d heard him rave on the subject often enough.  But I did it just the same as I did a good many other things I am not very proud to remember now.  But I haven’t done it this year—­at least only a few times.  Once I played when I’d sent Madeline all the money I had for her traveling expenses and once or twice beside I did it on my own account because I was so darned sick of toeing a chalk mark I had to go on a tangent or bust.  I am not excusing it.  I am not excusing anything.  I am just telling the truth.

“Anyhow the other night I played again in good earnest.  There were quite a number of fellows in the game and we all got a bit excited and plunged more than we meant to especially myself and Ned Delany who was out to get me if he could.  He hates me like the seven year itch anyway because I caught him cheating at cards once and said so right out in meeting.  I had absolutely incredible luck.  I guess the devil or the angels were on my side.  I swept everything, made about three hundred dollars in all.  The fellows paid up and I banked the stuff and mailed Madeline a check for the whole amount the first thing.  I don’t know what would have happened if I had lost instead of winning.  I didn’t think about that.  A true gambler never does I reckon.

“But I want to say right here and now, Uncle Phil, that I am through with the business.  The other night sickened me of gambling for good and all.  Even Dad couldn’t have hated it any more than I do this minute.  It is rotten for a man, kills his nerves and his morals and his common sense.  I’m done.  I’ll never make another penny that way as long as I live.  But I’m not sorry I did it this once no matter how hard I’m paying for it.  If I had it to do over again I’d do precisely the same thing.  I wonder if you can understand that, Uncle Phil, or whether you’ll think I’m just plain unregenerate.