ou figger those folks are to be robbed by--some one. Do you
need to wait for that? Why not marry that gal and get right out taking
her folks with her? Let all the pirates do as they darn please with
Bell River. I don't get any other view of this thing right."

"No. But I do." There was a curious, obstinate thrust to this big
man's jaw. "By heaven, Bill! The feller responsible for the murder of
my little gal's father, a father she just loved to death, don't git
away with his play if I know it. The feller that hands her an hour's
suffering needs to answer to me for it, and I'm ready to hand over my
life in seeing he gets his physic. There's no one going to get away
with the boodle Allan gave his life for--not if I can hold him up.
That's just as fixed in my mind as I'm going to marry Jessie. Get that
good. And I hold you to your word on the trail. You're with me in it.
I've got things fixed, and I've set 'em working. I'm quitting for
Seattle in the morning. You'll just sit around lying low, and doping
out your physic to every blamed sinner who needs it. Then, with the
spring, you'll stand by ready to quit for the last long trail with me.
Maybe, come that time, I'll hand you a big talk of all the fool things
I've got in my head. How?"

The other drew a deep sigh. But he nodded.

"Sure. If you're set that way--why, count me in."

"The man that can 'ante' blind maybe is a fool. But he's good grit
anyway. Thanks, Bill. I--what's doing?"

The sharpness of Kars' inquiry was the result of a startled movement in
his companion. Dr. Bill was leaning forward. But he was leaning so
that he was screened by the heavy curtain of the box. He was craning.
In his eyes was a profound look of wonder, almost of incredulity.

The vaudeville act had come to an end with a brazen flourish from the
orchestra, and a waltz had been started on the instant. The eyes of
the man were staring down at the floor below, where, already, several
couples were gliding over its polished surface.

"Look," he said, in a suppressed tone of voice. "Keep back so he don't
see you. Get a look at Chesapeake Maude."

Kars searched the room for the beautiful red-gold head. He looked
amongst the crowd. Then his gaze came to the few dancers, their
numbers already augmenting. The flash of jewels caught his gaze. The
wonderful smiling face with its halo of red-gold. An exclamation broke
from him.

"Alec Mowbray!"

But it was left t