ll table, one of the several devoted to refreshments for the
dancers, in a corner and unoccupied. The affair upon the floor was
apparently past history--if it merited even that distinction. The place
had resumed its program of dancing, playing and drinking as though after
all a pistol shot was of no great moment in the Big Tent.

"You had a narrow shave," my friend remarked as we seated ourselves--I
with a sigh of gratitude for the opportunity. "If you can't draw quicker
you'd better keep your hands in your pockets. Let's have a dose of
t'rant'lar juice to set you up." Whereupon he ordered whiskey from a
waiter.

"But I couldn't stand by and see him strike a woman," I defended.

"Wall, fists mean guns, in these diggin's. Where you from?"

"Albany, New York State."

"I sized you up as a pilgrim. You haven't been long in camp, either, have
you?"

"No. But plenty long enough," I miserably replied.

"Long enough to be plucked, eh?"

We had drunk the whiskey. Under its warming influence my tongue loosened.
Moreover there was something strong and kindly in the hearty voice and the
rough face of this rudely clad plainsman, black bearded to the piercing
black eyes.

"Yes; of my last cent."

"All at gamblin', mebbe?"

"No. Only a little, but that strapped me. The hotel had robbed me of
practically everything else."

"Had, had it? Wall, what's the story?"

I told him of the hotel part; and he nodded.

"Shore. You can't hold the hotel responsible. You can leave stuff loose in
regular camp; nobody enters flaps without permission. But a room is a
different proposition. I'd rather take chances among Injuns than among
white men. Why, you could throw in with a Sioux village for a year and not
be robbed permanent if the chief thought you straight; but in a white
man's town--hell! Now, how'd you get tangled up with this other outfit?"

"Which?" I queried.

"That brace outfit I found you with."

"The fellow is a stranger to me, sir," said I. "I simply was foolish
enough to stake what little I had on a sure thing--I was bamboozled into
following the lead of the rest of you," I reminded. "Now I see that there
was a trick, although I don't yet understand. After that the fellow
assaulted the lady, my companion, and you stepped in--for which, sir, I
owe you more thanks than I can utter."

"A trick, you think?" He opened his hairy mouth for a gust of short
laughter. "My Gawd, boy! We were nicely took in, and we desarved i