he would come face to face with some of the directors,
whom he did not care to meet in such surroundings. And so, while
gambling, he seldom looked up from his cards. The crowd came and went,
but he never saw it.

This big game attracted watchers. The visitors were noisy; they drank a
good deal; they lost with an equanimity that excited interest, even
in Benton. The luck for Neale seesawed back and forth. Then he lost
steadily until he had to borrow from Hough.

About this time Beauty Stanton, with Ruby and another woman, entered the
room, and were at once attracted by the game, to the evident pleasure
of the visitors. And then, unexpectedly, Larry Red King stalked in and
lounged forward, cool, easy, careless, his cigarette half smoked, his
blue eyes keen.

"Hey! is that him?" whispered one of the visitors, indicating Larry.

"That's Red," replied Hough. "I hope he's not looking for one of you
gentlemen."

They laughed, but not spontaneously.

"I've seen his like in Dodge City," said one.

"Ask him to sit in the game," said another.

"No. Red's a card-sharp," replied Hough. "And I'd hate to see him catch
one of you pulling a crooked deal."

They lapsed back into the intricacies and fascination of poker.

Neale, however, found the game unable to hold his undivided attention.
Larry was there, looking and watching, and he made Neale's blood run
cold. The girl Ruby stood close at hand, with her half-closed eyes,
mysterious and sweet, upon him, and Beauty Stanton came up behind him.

"Neale, I'll bring you luck," she said, and put her hand on his
shoulder.

Neale's luck did change. Fortune faced about abruptly, with its fickle
inconsistency, and Neale had a run of cards that piled the gold and
bills before him and brought a crowd ten deep around the table. When the
game broke up Neale had won three thousand dollars.

"See! I brought you luck," whispered Beauty Stanton in his ear. And
across the table Ruby smiled hauntingly and mockingly.

Neale waved the crowd toward the bar. Only the women and Larry refused
the invitation. Ruby gravitated irresistibly toward the cowboy.

"Aren't you connected with the road?" inquired one of the visitors,
drinking next to Neale.

"Yes," replied Neale.

"Saw you in Omaha at the office of the company. My name's Blair. I sell
supplies to Commissioner Lee. He has growing interests along the road."

Neale's lips closed and he set down his empty glass. Excusing himself,
he w