d. And there was an even darker suspicion. But this must be
given in Joe Wynbrook's own words:--

"I didn't mind the old woman winnin' and winnin' reg'lar--for poker's
an unsartin game;--it ain't the money that we're losin'--for it's all
in the camp. But when she's developing a habit o' holdin' FOUR aces when
somebody else hez TWO, who don't like to let on because it's Prosper's
old mother--it's gettin' rough! And dangerous too, gentlemen, if there
happened to be an outsider in, or one of the boys should kick. Why, I
saw Bilson grind his teeth--he holdin' a sequence flush--ace high--when
the dear old critter laid down her reg'lar four aces and raked in the
pile. We had to nearly kick his legs off under the table afore he'd
understand--not havin' an old mother himself."

"Some un will hev to tackle her without Prossy knowin' it. For it would
jest break his heart, arter all he's gone through to get her here!" said
Brewster significantly.

"Onless he DID know it and it was that what made him so sorrowful when
they first came. B'gosh! I never thought o' that," said Wynbrook, with
one of his characteristic sudden illuminations.

"Well, gentlemen, whether he did or not," said the barkeeper stoutly,
"he must never know that WE know it. No, not if the old gal cleans out
my bar and takes the last scad in the camp."

And to this noble sentiment they responded as one man.

How far they would have been able to carry out that heroic resolve was
never known, for an event occurred which eclipsed its importance. One
morning at breakfast Mrs. Pottinger fixed a clouded eye upon Prosper.

"Prosper," she said, with fell deliberation "you ought to know you have
a sister."

"Yes, ma'am," returned Prosper, with that meekness with which he usually
received these family disclosures.

"A sister," continued the lady, "whom you haven't seen since you were
a child; a sister who for family reasons has been living with other
relatives; a girl of nineteen."

"Yea, ma'am," said Prosper humbly. "But ef you wouldn't mind writin' all
that down on a bit o' paper--ye know my short memory! I would get it by
heart to-day in the gulch. I'd have it all pat enough by night, ef," he
added, with a short sigh, "ye was kalkilatin' to make any illusions to
it when the boys are here."

"Your sister Augusta," continued Mrs. Pottinger, calmly ignoring these
details, "will be here to-morrow to make me a visit."

But here the worm Prosper not only turned, bu