Tenison's," objected Lefever.

"I mean, across the street, up-stairs; or at Jim Kitchen's barn. If he
was hurried to get away," added Scott reflectively, "he would slip
up-stairs over there as the nearest place to hide; if he had time he
would make for the barn, where it would be easy to cache his rifle."

Lefever took the lapel of the scout's coat in his hand. "Then you,
Bob, go out and see if you can get the whole story. I'll take
the barn. Let Henry go over to Tenison's and wait at the head of
the stairs till we can get back there. It is just around the
corner--second floor--a dark hall running back, opposite the
double doors that open into an anteroom. Stay there, Henry, till we
come. It won't be long, and if we don't get track of him you may
spot your man yourself."

De Spain found no difficulty in locating the flight of marble stairs
that led to the gambling-rooms. It was the only lighted entrance
in the side street. No light shone at the head of the stairs, but a
doorway on the left opened into a dimly lighted anteroom and this, in
turn, through a large arch, opened on a large room brilliantly
lighted by chandeliers--one in the centre and one near each corner.
Around three sides of this room were placed the keno layouts,
roulette-wheels, faro-tables, and minor gambling devices. Off the
casino itself small card-rooms opened.

The big room was well filled for a wet night. The faro-tables were
busy, and at the central table at the farther end of the room--the
table designated as Tenison's, because, at the rare intervals in which
the proprietor dealt, he presided at this table--a group watched
silently a game in progress. De Spain took a place in shadow near one
side of the archway facing the street-door and at times looked within
for the loosely jointed frame, crooked neck, tousled forehead, and
malevolent face of the cattle thief. He could find in the many figures
scattered about the room none resembling the one he sought.

A man entering the place spoke to another coming out. De Spain
overheard the exchange. "Duke got rid of his steers yet?" asked the
first.

"Not yet."

"Slow game."

"The old man sold quite a bunch this time. The way he's playing now
he'll last twenty-four hours."

De Spain, following the newcomer, strolled into the room and,
beginning at one side, proceeded in leisurely fashion from wheel to
wheel and table to table inspecting the players. Few looked at him and
none paid any attent