The mayor looked at him a moment in surprise, then continued.
"Now the king," he muttered, "now the ace. We're on the home stretch, going strong. There, it's finished. It's come out right. A great game, I tell you."
He leaned back. Kendrick s fever-yellowed face was like a bronze mask. His eyes were fiercely on the table and the two decks of cards that lay there.
"And when you've finished," he pointed. "When you've finished—"
Mr. Cargan picked up the deck on the left.
"All black," he said, "when the game comes out right"
"And the other?" Kendrick persisted softly. He pointed to the remaining deck. A terrible smile of understanding drew his thin lips taut. "And the other, Mr. Cargan?"
"Red," replied Cargan. "What else could it be? All red."
He picked it up and shuffled through it to prove his point. Kendrick turned like a drunken man and staggered back down the aisle. Magee rose
