t, and full of genuine emotion. Allie returned to her chair by
the sideboard before she ventured to look up. Durade was playing cards
with four men, three of whom were black-garbed, after the manner of
professional gamblers. The other player wore gray, and a hat of unusual
shape, with wide, loose, cloth band. He removed his hat as he caught
Allie's glance, and she associated the act with the fact of her
presence. She thought that this must be the man whose voice had
proclaimed him English. He had a fair face, lined and shadowed and
dissipated, with tired blue eyes and a blond mustache that failed to
altogether hide a well-shaped mouth. It was the kindest and saddest face
Allie had ever seen there. She read its story. In her extremity she had
acquired a melancholy wisdom in the judgment of the faces of the
men drifting through Durade's hall. What Allie had heard in this
Englishman's voice she saw in his features. He did not look at her
again. He played cards wearily, carelessly, indifferently, with his mind
plainly on something else.

"Ancliffe, how many cards?" called one of the black-garbed men.

The Englishman threw down his cards. "None," he said.

The game was interrupted by a commotion in the adjoining room, which was
the public gambling-hall of Durade's establishment.

"Another fight!" exclaimed Durade, impatiently. "And only Mull and
Fresno showed up to-day."

Harsh voices and heavy stamps were followed by a pistol-shot. Durade
hurriedly arose.

"Gentlemen, excuse me," he said, and went out. One of the gamblers also
left the room, and another crossed it to peep through the door.

This left the Englishman sitting at the table with the last gambler,
whose back was turned toward Allie. She saw the Englishman lean forward
to speak. Then the gambler arose and, turning, came directly toward her.

"My name is Place Hough," he said, speaking rapidly and low. "I am a
gambler--but gentleman. I've heard strange rumors about you, and now I
see for myself. Are you Allie Lee?"

Allie's heart seemed to come to her throat. She shook all over, and she
gazed with piercing intensity at the man. When he had arisen from the
table he had appeared the same black-garbed, hard-faced gambler as any
of the others. But looked at closely, he was different. Underneath the
cold, expressionless face worked something mobile and soft. His eyes
were of crystal clearness and remarkable for a penetrating power. They
shone with wonder, curi