h a blow I sent him reeling
backward.

He recovered; every vestige of color had left his face, except for the
spot where I had landed; his hat had sprung aside from the shock--his gray
eyes, contrasted with his black hair, fastened upon my eyes almost
deliberately and his upper lip lifted over set white teeth. With lightning
movement he thrust the fingers of his right hand into his waistcoat
pocket.

I heard a rush of feet, a clamor of voices; and all the while, which
seemed interminable, I was tugging, awkward with deadly peril, at my
revolver. His fingers had whipped free of the pocket, I glimpsed as with
second sight (for my eyes were held strongly by his) the twin little
black muzzles of a derringer concealed in his palm; a spasm of fear
pinched me; they spurted, with ringing report, but just at the instant a
flanneled arm knocked his arm up, the ball had sped ceiling-ward and the
teamster of the gaming table stood against him, revolver barrel boring
into his very stomach.

"Stand pat, Mister. I call you."

In a trice all entry of any unpleasant emotion vanished from my
antagonist's handsome face, leaving it olive tinted, cameo, inert. He
steadied a little, and smiled, surveying the teamster's visage, close to
his.

"You have me covered, sir. My hand is in the discard." He composedly
tucked the derringer into his waistcoat pocket again. "That gentleman
struck me; he was about to draw on me, and by rights I might have killed
him. My apologies for this little disturbance."

He bestowed a challenging look upon me, a hard unforgiving look upon the
lady; with a bow he turned for his hat, and stepping swiftly went back to
his table.

Now in the reaction I fought desperately against a trembling of the knees;
there were congratulations, a hubbub of voices assailing me--and the arm
of the teamster through mine and his bluff invitation:

"Come and have a drink."

"But you'll return. You must. I want to speak with you."

It was My Lady, pleading earnestly. I still could scarcely utter a word;
my brain was in a smother. My new friend moved me away from her. He
answered for me.

"Not until we've had a little confab, lady. We've got matters of
importance jest at present."

I saw her bite her lips, as she helplessly flushed; her blue eyes implored
me, but I had no will of my own and I certainly owed a measure of courtesy
to this man who had saved my life.

CHAPTER IX

I ACCEPT AN OFFER

We found a sma