“I ’ain’t got nothing in life but you, honey.  There ain’t nobody else under the sun makes any difference.  That’s why I want you to get out of it, Blutch.  It’s a dirty game—­the gambling game.  You ain’t fit for it.  You’re too good.  They’ve nearly got you now, Blutch.  Let’s get out, honey, while the goin’s good.  Let’s take them seventy-five bucks and buy us a peanut-stand or a line of goods.  Let’s be regular folks, darlin’!  I’m willin’ to begin low down.  Don’t stake them last seventy-five, Blutch.  Break while we’re broke.  It ain’t human nature to break while your luck’s with you.”

He was for folding her in his arms, but she still withheld him.

“Blutch darlin’, it’s the first thing I ever asked of you.”

He grew grave, looking long into her blue eyes with the tears forming over them.

“Why, Ann ‘Lisbeth, danged if I know what to say!  You sure you’re feelin’ well, Babe?  ’Ain’t took cold, have you, with your fur coat in hock?”

“No, no, no!”

“Well, I—­I guess, honey, if the truth was told, your old man ain’t cut out for nothing much besides the gamin’-table—­a fellow that’s knocked around the world the way I have.”

“You are, Blutch; you are!  You’re an expert accountant.  Didn’t you run the Two Dollar Hat Store that time in Syracuse and get away with it?”

“I know, Babe; but when a fellow’s once used to makin’ it easy and spendin’ it easy, he can’t be satisfied lopin’ along in a little business.  Why, just take to-night, honey!  I only brought home my girl a peach this evening, but that ain’t sayin’ that before morning breaks I can’t be bringin’ her a couple of two-carat stones.”

“No, no, Blutch; I don’t want ’em.  I swear to God I don’t want ’em!”

“Why, Babe, I just can’t figure out what’s got into you.  I never heard you break out like this.  Are you scared, honey, because we happen to be lower than—­”

“No, no, darlin’; I ain’t scared because we’re low.  I’m scared to get high again.  It’s the first run of real luck you’ve had in three years, Blutch.  There was no hope of gettin’ you out while things was breakin’ good for you; but now—­”

“I ain’t sayin’ it’s the best game in the world.  I’d see a son of mine laid out before I’d let him get into it.  But it’s what I’m cut out for, and what are you goin’ to do about it?  ’Ain’t you got everything your little heart desires?  Ain’t we going down to Sheepshead when the first thaw sets in?  Ain’t we just a pair of love-birds that’s as happy as if we had our right senses?  Come, Babe; get into your jacket.  Joe’ll be here any minute, and I got that porterhouse at Jack’s on the brain.  Come kiss your hubby.”

She held up her face with the tears rolling down it, and he kissed a dry spot and her yellow frizzed bangs.

“My girl!  My cry-baby girl!”

“You’re all I got in the world, Blutch!  Thinkin’ of what’s best for you has eat into me.”