urmured. And her prevision of salvation contended with the
dark menace of the hour. But, as always, she rose above hopelessness.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of the mute, Stitt, who
brought her a few effects left at the former place, and then a tray
holding her dinner. That day passed swiftly.

Darkness came, bringing a strange augmentation of the sounds with which
Allie had become familiar. She did not use her lamp, for she had become
accustomed to being without one, and she seemed to be afraid of a
light. Only a dim, pale glow came in at her window. But the roar of
Benton--that grew as night fell. She had heard something similar in
the gold-camps of California and in the grading-camps where Durade had
lingered; this was at once the same and yet vastly different. She lay
listening and thinking. The low roar was that of human beings, and
any one of its many constituents seemed difficult to distinguish.
Voices--footsteps--movement--music--mirth--dancing--clink of gold and
glasses--the high, shrill laugh of a woman--the loud, vacant laugh of
a man--sudden gust of dust-laden wind sweeping overhead... all these
blended in the mysterious sound that voiced the strife and agony of
Benton. For hours it kept her awake; and when she did fall asleep it was
so late in the night that, upon awakening next day, she thought it must
be noon or later.

That day passed and another night came. It brought a change in that
the house she was in became alive and roaring. Durade had gotten his
establishment under way. Allie lay in sleepless suspense. Rough, noisy,
thick-voiced men appeared to be close to her, in one of the rooms
adjoining hers, and outside in the tents. The room, however, into which
hers opened was not entered. Dawn had come before Allie fell asleep.

Thus days passed during which she saw only the attendant, Stitt, and
Allie began to feel a strain that she believed would be even harder on
her than direct contact with Benton life. While she was shut up there,
what chance had she of ever seeing Neale or Larry even if they were in
Benton? Durade had said he would take her outdoors occasionally, but she
had not seen him. Restlessness and gloom began to weigh upon her and she
was in continual conflict with herself. She began to think of disobeying
Durade. Something would happen to him sooner or later, and in that event
what was she to do? Why not try and escape? Whatever the evil of Benton,
it was possible that