f the women; the cold watchfulness
of the men, were what she pictured.

In a way she almost regretted that she was admired by such fighting men,
Landis, Lord Nick, and now Donnegan, who frightened away the rank and
file of other would-be admirers. But it was a pang which she could
readily control and subdue.

To tell the truth the rest of the day dragged through a weary length. At
the dinner table her father leaned to her and talked in his usual
murmuring voice which could reach her own ear and no other by any
chance.

"Nelly, there's going to be the devil to pay around The Corner. You know
why. Now, be a good girl and wise girl and play your cards. Donnegan is
losing his head; he's losing it over you. So play your cards."

"Turn down Nick and take up Donnegan?" she asked coldly.

"I've said enough already," said her father, and would not speak again.
But it was easy to see that he already felt Lord Nick's star to be past
its full glory.

Afterward, Lebrun himself took his daughter over to Milligan's and left
her under the care of the dance-hall proprietor.

"I'm waiting for someone," said Nelly, and Milligan sat willingly at her
table and made talk. He was like the rest of The Corner--full of the
subject of the strange encounter between Lord Nick and Donnegan. What
had Donnegan done to the big man? Nelly merely smiled and said they
would all know in time: one thing was certain--Lord Nick had not taken
water. But at this Milligan smiled behind his hand.

Ten minutes later there was that stir which announced the arrival of
some public figures; and Donnegan with big George behind him came into
the room. This evening he went straight to the table to Nelly Lebrun.
Milligan, a little uneasy, rose. But Donnegan was gravely polite and
regretted that he had interrupted.

"I have only come to ask you for five minutes of your time," he said to
the girl.

She was about to put him off merely to make sure of her hold over him,
but something she saw in his face fascinated her. She could not play her
game. Milligan had slipped away before she knew it, and Donnegan was in
his place at the table. He was as much changed as Lord Nick, she
thought. Not that his clothes were less carefully arranged than ever,
but in the compression of his lips and something behind his eyes she
felt the difference. She would have given a great deal indeed to have
learned what went on behind the door of Donnegan's shack when Lord Nick
was there.