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my way till I'm toothless? Not any! I'm going to jump college and I'm going to work. And," he wound up, "I'm going to do it right now!"

"Now?"

"Tomorrow. Sooner the better. No part of this degree stuff—it's all a rumor anyway, doesn't amount to a hoot whether a fellow's got one or not in the long run. That's one reason I wanted to talk to you, mother. I wanted to ask you if you minded. Now—" His white teeth shone in quick gaiety, "now I'm not asking, I'm announcing! Seems to me it's just about time I took you in hand!

"I'll tell you," he said sobering, "what my reaction to this thing is. Of course at first I was knocked cold. I'd never even dreamed. . . . And I didn't like it, not a little bit. Gambling as an indoor sport is a great thing and can have my month's allowance any time, but gambling as a business—my mother's business—well, that gripes me. It's so beneath you! You know that. Like a duchess acting as barmaid——"

"Thanks," interjected Mrs. Hamill weakly.

"And not only that, but—well, look what a wet smack I turned out to be! Here I am, twenty-three years old in a day or two—I ought to have been supporting you for the past six years at least, instead of loafing around like a bloated plutocrat on money you had to make—this way—" He peered at her curiously. "Say, whatever did possess you to pick this way, mother?"

"Oh—that's a long story. I've always liked men and loved cards. The combination was not without its appeal."

"Well," Jock resumed after a meditative moment, "at any rate, it's all over now. If you think I'm going to stick in college even a day longer and let you go on