eaching her to love him. That's part of his scheme, no doubt, for
then she will be so much easier handled. I tell you, Fairbain, your only
chance to ever win the interest of Christie Maclaire is to help us down
this fellow Hawley. Yes, you can sit up; I reckon you're beginning to
see clearer, ain't you?"

Keith drew aside the flap of the tent to glance without, the light
falling on Fairbain's face as he struggled to a sitting posture. He
had had a new thought driven into him, yet failed to entirely grasp its
significance.

"But, Jack," he asked, still half angry, "how about the girl? Hasn't she
any right to this money?"

"I don't know," honestly, "we don't any of us know, but whatever she has
the right to she is going to get. You can bet on that, old man. We're
bucking Hawley not Christie Maclaire--get that into your head. He
hasn't any right, that's certain, for he murdered and stole to get the
papers--be quiet! Here the fellow comes now!"

They peered out together through the convenient tent flap, Fairbain
scarcely less interested than the other, already dimly comprehending
that his truly dangerous rival was the gambler, and that he could best
serve the lady by helping to prove to her the real character of that
individual. He was still blindly groping in the haze, yet out of Keith's
sharp, stinging words there had come to him a guiding light. The latter
gripped his arm in restraint.

"Easy, old man, easy--let him pass."

Hawley turned into the alley whistling, evidently well pleased with the
situation and anticipating other delights awaiting his coming. The glow
of the Trocadero's lights served, an instant, to reveal his face, shaded
by the broad brim of his hat, and then he vanished into the dark. Keith
leaning far out, yet keeping well within the shadows, heard the faint
creak of the vestibule door and the soft murmur of distant voices.
Then he drew back suddenly, his hand again grasping Fairbain. Two
figures--those of a man and woman--emerged into the dim light, and as
quickly disappeared. Apparently her hand was upon his arm, and he was
bending down so as to gain a glimpse of the face partially concealed
by the folds of the mantilla. Only a word or two reached them, a little
laugh, and the woman's voice:

"Why, of course I hurried; you said you had something of such importance
to tell me."

"Fairbain," spoke Keith, his lips almost at the ear of the other. "That
was Hope, all right, and she has got him go