Billie, huddled on the ground, her head pillowed against the side of
his cot, slumbered deeply, and Gentleman Geoff's slim, delicate fingers
touched her hair in a wistful caress. On a nearby bench Thode, bathed
and freshly bandaged, slept also. Jim Baggott had tried in vain to
drag him back to the hotel, for the young engineer had read a mute
desire in the dying man's glance and refused to leave his side.

The army surgeon had done his best, but the end was near and only the
superb vitality of the old gambler glowed still, like a living spark.
Now and then the surgeon paused in his busy round within to glance
speculatively from the doorway and each time Gentleman Geoff nodded
reassuringly to him. Not yet!

The blaze of noon subsided, and as the shadows lengthened in the patio,
Billie stirred, and Thode stretched and opened his eyes.

"Oh, Dad, I must have fallen asleep!" The girl's tones were filled
with contrition. "Do you want anything? Is the pain very bad?"

It seemed to her that a shadow had crept into her father's eyes, but
his faint voice was steady.

"No, Billie. No pain--just tired. Has young Thode gone home?"

"No, Sir, I'm here." He came eagerly forward. "Is there anything you
want me to do?"

"Only shake hands with me. You rode well, last night. I reckoned
Perry Larkin knew a man when he saw one, but he didn't know all that
was in you. Billie, girl, go ask the Doc if I can have a drink or a
little shot to pull me together." As the girl flew to do his bidding,
Gentleman Geoff's thin fingers tightened their grip. "Thode, the boys
will all stand by her and play square, but I'm leaving her alone. She
isn't their kind; she doesn't know it, nobody does, but my little
girl's of different blood. There's no one around here in her class,
except you. Kind of--look out for her, will you?"

"I will, Sir." Thode's voice shook with the fervor of his vow. "You
want her away from Limasito, from this environment? I have a sister up
North----"

"That's what I mean." A spasm of pain contorted the pallid face and he
went on hurriedly as if fearful of the inevitable interruption. "I
couldn't take her myself and couldn't part from her, but the life
hasn't been right for her, though I did all I could. She's a lady and
she must go back to her own. I'd like to myself, for an hour, now.
That's a Harvard seal on your cigarette-case, if I'm not mistaken, Mr.
Thode."

Thode leaned forward, a sudde