rectly above. It was a monstrous ugly building,
constructed entirely of wood most hastily prepared; the stage was
utilized both night and day for continuous variety entertainments of
the kind naturally demanded by the motley gathering. These, however,
were occasionally suspended to make room for some adventurous
travelling company to appear in the legitimate drama, but at the close
of every evening performance the main floor was promptly cleared, the
rows of chairs pushed hastily back from the centre, and the space thus
vacated utilized for a general dance, which invariably continued until
dawn.

When the drop-curtain slowly rose that Saturday evening fully three
thousand people crowded the hall, eager for any fresh excitement; and
ready enough either to taunt or applaud a performer, as the whim moved
them. Bearded miners conspicuous in red shirts; cattlemen wearing wide
sombreros and hairy "chaps"; swarthy Mexicans lazily puffing the
inseparable cigarette; gamblers attired in immaculate linen, together
with numerous women gaudy of cheek and attire, composed a frontier
audience full of possibilities. The result might easily prove good or
evil, according to the prevailing temper, but fortunately the "Heart of
the World" quickly caught the men's fancy, the laughter ringing loud in
appreciation of Mr. Lane's ardent buffoonery, while the motley crowd
sat in surprised silence evincing respect, as Miss Norvell drove home
to their minds the lesson of a woman's sorrow and struggle against
temptation. It was well worth while looking out across the oil-lamp
footlights upon those hard-faced, bearded men, those gaudily attired
women, thus held and controlled by perfectly depleted emotion, the vast
audience so silent that the click of the wheel, the rattle of ivory
chips in the rooms beyond, became plainly audible. There was
inspiration in it likewise, and never before did Beth Norvell more
clearly exhibit her native power, her spark of real genius.

Winston found little to do in his department that night, either on or
off the stage, as the company expected to spend Sunday in the place.
Consequently, he was only slightly behind the other members of the
troupe in attaining the hotel at the conclusion of the evening's
performance. Indeed, he was earlier than many, for most of the male
members had promptly adjourned to the convenient bar-room, with
whatsoever small sums of money they could wring from out the reluctant
palm of