Buttons

Around the little table in the center of the room sat three officer Fritzies playing cards. Over their heads hung an electric light, and over in front of the mirror a fourth Fritz brushed his bristles with a real hairbrush. There were two entrancing bunks, one legitimate chair, several framed photographs on the walls, and numerous magazines strewn about. The only thing that dugout lacked was period furniture.

Cottingham turned his attention again to the card players. He presumed they were playing skat, but he began to doubt this when one of them showed his hand and said, "Drei Koenigen. Was habst du?" The man opposite said, "Alle blau." According to Cottingham's feeble German, one player had announced three kings and the other had said that his cards were all blue. This sounded very much like