rs, those remaining days before
he could get Alec away were perhaps the longest and most anxious of his
life. For all the sweet eyes of Jessie were urging him on behalf of
her foolish brother, he felt utterly helpless.

But neither he nor Bill remained idle. Their watch, their secret watch
over their charge, was prosecuted indefatigably. Every night saw them
onlookers of the scene on the dance-floor of the Elysian Fields. And
their vantage ground was the remote interior of one of the boxes.
Their purpose was simple. It was a certainty in their minds that Pap
would seek a public vengeance. Nor could he take it better than in his
own dance hall where Maude and Alec flouted him every night. Thus, if
their expectations were fulfilled, they would be on the spot to succor.
A watchful eye might even avert disaster.

It was the third night of their watch. Nor was their vigil without
interest beyond its object. Bill, who knew by sight every frequenter
of the place, spent his time searching for newcomers. But newcomers
were scarce at this season of the year. The arrivals had not yet begun
from Seattle, and the "inside" was already claiming those who belonged
to it. Kars devoted himself to a distant watch on Pap Shaunbaum.
However the man's vengeance was to come, he felt that he must discover
some sign in him of its imminence.

Pap was at his post amongst the crowd at the bar. His dark face hid
every emotion behind a perfect mask. He talked and smiled with his
customers, while his quick eyes kept sharp watch on the dancers. But
never once did he display any undue interest in the tall couple whose
very presence in his hall must have maddened him to a murderous pitch.

The clatter of the bar was lost under the joyous strains of the
orchestra. Its pleasant quality drew forth frequent applause from the
light-hearted crowd. Many were there who had no thought at all for
that which they regarded as a _comedy_. Others again, like the men in
the box, watched every move, every shade of expression which passed
across the face of the Jewish proprietor. None knew for certain. But
all guessed. And the guess of everybody was of a denouement which
would serve the city with a topic of interest for at least a year.

"It's thinner to-night."

Bill spoke from the shadow of his curtain.

"The gang?" Kars did not withdraw his gaze.

"Sure. There's just one guy I don't know. But he don't look like
cutting any ice. He's