nger, and thanks for your help."

"But won't you let me take you home, or wherever you are going?" Thode
asked.

"No, thanks. I left my basket down in the ditch--"

"I'll get it for you," he urged. "It isn't safe for a girl like you to
go about alone after nightfall in a place like this."

The girl's eyes sought his wonderingly in the darkness.

"Me?" she ejaculated. "Stranger, I came to this town when it was
nothing but four shacks and a gusher, and I know everyone in it, white,
yellow and Mex. Not safe? Why every dog knows Gentleman Geoff's
Billie!"

"You?" he stammered.

"That's me. My Dad is Gentleman Geoff," she explained proudly. "He
owns the Blue Chip, and it's the squarest gambling-house from Chihuahua
to Campeche. It's kind of you to offer to go with me, but I don't need
any protection. I sort of belong to Limasito, I reckon. Adios!"

CHAPTER II

A SUPERFLUOUS KNIGHT-ERRANT

Kearn Thode rode back to his hotel with his brain in a whirl. That
girl with the sweet, steady eyes and naive, fearless manner, the
product of a gambling-house and associate of its habitues? The thought
filled him with repugnance akin to horror. He was in no sense a prig,
but although this was his first venture below the Rio Grande, he had
spent three years in the roughest corners of the West and he knew the
type of women who infested the dance-halls and gambling-joints; unclean
camp-followers of the army of Chance.

How had she grown to budding womanhood without contamination in such an
atmosphere? Self-reliant she had shown herself to be, but tender in
her pitying care of the injured boy and innocently free from coquetry
or cynical suspicion in her frank acceptance of the stranger. There
had been open amusement in her tone at his suggestion of danger to her
from any in Limasito, and genuine love and pride when she spoke of her
father and his calling. How was it possible that the mire of her
surroundings had left her untouched?

The huge, squat adobe house was ablaze with light as he urged his jaded
pony into a gallop to pass it quickly. Lights gleamed also in the
patio and Chinese servants flitted here and there among the crowded
tables. He felt a hot surge of resentment as the subdued murmur of
masculine voices and jarring laughter floated after him. What an
environment for such a girl!

After a hasty wash-up and a meal he sought further enlightenment from
his landlord. It was promptly and enthu