"I sus-saw his eyelids move," stammered Springer, still fanning. "He's coming round! He's breathing!"

"Yes, he's coming round, thank fortune!" said Osgood in great relief.

"He ought to be all right in a few minutes."

Although these signs of reviving probably gave Shultz the most satisfaction, he now attempted to hide his feelings behind an air of sullen defiance and self-justification. Apparently, with the exception of Osgood, he was the calmest person in the room.

Presently Hooker's breast heaved and he gave a heavy sigh. Then his eyes opened.

"You're all right, old man," said Osgood. "You got a fierce old b.u.mp when you fell, but you'll be on your pins in a minute or two now."

Hooker looked at him strangely without speaking. After a little time they lifted Roy and placed him on the big leather-covered Morris chair, following which they stood around and tried to get him to say that he was feeling better. He continued to stare at them, one after another, in that same puzzled, bewildered way, and all their efforts to draw a word from him were fruitless. Once his eyes rested on Shultz, but in their depths there was no gleam of light in the slightest way different from that aroused by sight of the others.

"He's dazed," whispered Sleuth. "His mind is befogged."

"If we let him alone a few minutes he ought to come out of it," said Osgood. "Let's settle up. We can't play any more to-night."

"I'd like to know where that fuf-fifth ace came from," said Springer, as he turned all the aces over and looked at the backs of the cards.

"They're alike, every one of 'em."

"I had two packs alike," explained Osgood. "The extra ace must have gotten into this pack by accident."

"If we've been playing with it all the time," ventured Cooper timidly, "it's mighty funny we didn't discover it before."

"I'd like to know what you mean by that," growled Shultz, glaring at Chipper in a manner that made the little fellow draw back a bit. "I hope you don't insinuate--"

"I'm not insinuating anything," was the hasty disclaimer. "I just said it was funny, that's all."

"Fuf-funny is hardly the word," muttered Springer.

"I'm sure," said Osgood quickly, "that no one in this crowd would play a dishonest game. The cards got mixed, and I made up that pack myself. If anybody is to blame, I am. Count up your chips, fellows, and let's square things right away."

They did as directed, and he settled up with each of them, turning last to Hooker, who was behind the game. Counting the few chips left to the unfortunate gamester, Osgood announced how many there were and offered their value in change to Roy, who, however, made no attempt to accept the coins.

"This is what's coming to you, Roy," said Ned. "Take it."

Hooker looked at him blankly. In Cooper's ear Piper whispered:

"He don't understand. What if he never comes out of it?"

"He will; he must," Chipper whispered back.

Ned slid the coins into Roy's pocket. "Now," he said, "I think this party had better break up. Somebody will have to see Hooker home, and I think the outside air will revive him. This affair must be kept strictly private. If any one breathes a word about it, he will brand himself as a-- Oh, but I know there's no need of saying such a thing, and I won't say it."

"You don't have to so far as I'm concerned," a.s.serted Piper promptly.

"Any one here would be a chump to tattle."

As Billy was the only one Osgood had feared, Ned immediately showed his relief and satisfaction.

Hooker, still sitting supinely on the Morris chair, permitted them to readjust his collar and tie. When they lifted him to his feet he stood still while they actually pushed his arms into his heavy, reefer-like coat.

"There you are," said Osgood, slapping him on the back. "We're all mighty sorry it happened, Roy, but it was a mistake. As I provided the cards, I must shoulder the blame, if any one. You've been a game loser, old chap. Do you need some money? I'll lend you what you want."

"Queer," whispered Piper. "He doesn't seem to understand a word."

"I'm going," said Shultz suddenly. He removed from the doork.n.o.b his cap, which had been hanging there, and turned the key in the lock. As if he realized that something more was expected of him, he stopped and forced himself to turn until he could look back at them, though it was plainly with a great struggle that he did so. "Perhaps some of you fellows blame me," he flung at them. "If you do, just try to put yourselves in my place. Just try to think of yourselves as holding four aces, getting them squarely and fairly, and then being called a cheat and a robber.

Perhaps I wouldn't have hit him if he hadn't tried to choke me."

"You're sorry it happened, aren't you, Charley?" said Osgood.

"I'm sorry-for your sake, anyhow; but I had to defend myself. Any other fellow would have done the same. Good night."

"Go out quietly," cautioned Ned, as Shultz was disappearing.

A few moments later they heard the departing fellow's footsteps coming up from the sidewalk.

"I'll let the rest of you out myself," said the host. "Don't talk as we go downstairs, and step quietly. Come on, Hooker."

He took Roy's arm, and, like guilty creatures, they stole out of the room and tiptoed down the stairs. It was necessary for Osgood to caution Hooker about descending in the dim light of the hall lamp. At the outer door Ned made them wait while he took a look into the street.

"n.o.body in sight," he announced in a low voice. "It's a good time to get away, fellows. Good night."

With muttered good nights they left the house and descended the steps, Springer having taken Hooker's arm. The air was damp and raw, and Piper's teeth chattered a little.

"Too bad our little pup-party busted up that way," muttered Phil; "but we were lucky to gug-gug-get out without anybody getting wise. Osgood's a fine chap, but if people knew about our playing in his rooms and this sc.r.a.p to-night, they'd think him a regular pirate. Every old gossip in town would gug-gabble."

"What worries me most," ventured Cooper, "is about Hooker. Don't you feel all right now, Roy?"

"Perhaps he doesn't want to speak," whispered Piper. "S'pose he can get home all right?"

"Somebody had bub-better go with him," said Springer. "It's out of my way, but it's on your road, Cooper. He's all right, only he doesn't talk. You see that he gets home, will you?"

"Yes, you see that he gets home, Chipper," urged Sleuth quickly. "I'll be late now. If the folks are still up, I'll have to make excuses. Good night, fellows." Turning into a side street, he set off at a run.

CHAPTER X

THE LIE.

All night long, when he slept at all, Billy Piper played poker in his dreams, tossing and muttering and clawing at the bedding with his hands.

But there were several protracted periods in those dark hours when he lay awake, thinking wretchedly of the almost tragic end of that game in Osgood's rooms. Never had he spent a worse night, and when the gray light of "the morning after" came stealing in at his bedroom window he prayed sincerely that he might never experience another like it.

Dawn brought him some relief from those distressing dreams and haunting visions of Hooker's p.r.o.ne, coatless figure and ghastly face; and, utterly worn out, he finally sank into a heavy doze. From this he was awakened by the sound of his mother's voice calling that it was time for him to get up if he wished any breakfast.

Her call had startled him and caused him to jerk himself partly upright in bed, where he remained propped upon his elbow as he answered that he would be down directly. This start had caused a throbbing in his temples, and after a bit he dropped back on the pillow, huskily muttering: