vanished into the earth looking, in the lantern-light like a malevolent
fiend returning to the realm of everlasting fire.

* * * * *

The balls which were given at the Franklin House on the old Pioneer road
were the most pretentious of the year. Feminine loveliness in silks
and cameos gathered from every section. General Sutter and his officers
sometimes were there, and the Spanish grandees brought to them the
lovely, star-eyed beauties of their households.

On this night a brilliant assemblage stood about in the ballroom floor
ready for a quadrille. Elena Ashley and her betrothed were near the wide
entrance doors.

"There is Sheriff Paul of Calaveras County," she told him. "He does not
dance. I wonder what brings him here?"

The doors opened and Rosa Phillips entered, magnificently jewelled and
dressed in a rich silk of pearl grey. Elena stared, clutching at her
partner's arm.

"Oh, look!" she shrieked, "she is wearing my wedding dress. My wedding
dress which was stitched at the shop of Rosenthal the peddler, in
Sacramento, and which he was to bring me two weeks ago. I know it is
mine! There is the pearl passe-mentre on it that was my mother's. There
is none other like it in California!"

"So?" answered Rosa cooly, glancing down at the voluminous silken folds
of her robe. Then she stood waving her big fan, her large, dark eyes
roving across the throng.

"Mine Host" came quickly forward. "It is not permitted, senora, that
you--"

Rosa smiled cynically. "I, the silken hawk, came not to flutter your
nest of doves, senor. I came but for a little hour to meet a man
who--Ah, he is coming now. Sheriff Paul, I have that to tell you
which--"

The sheriff offered his arm ceremoniously and they passed out of the
ballroom. Tender hearted Elena was conscience stricken. She dropped her
lover's arm and darted after them through the big doors.

"Oh, I am sorry, I did not mean--please, Sheriff Paul, she may have the
dress, poor thing! But for her, I should have had no man to marry on my
wedding day next week."

Sheriff Paul turned quickly. Elena, frightened, clapped two little hands
over her mouth. Rosa shrugged indifferently, and tipping back her small,
black head, listened to the music in the ballroom.

"Madam," to Rosa, "you sent for me, making strange promises which, for
the safety of this community, I hope that you are now pleased to keep."

Without lowering her chin she looked at him through sinister, narrowed