voice.

"Gold, of course. Neale was a gambler. Probably he had a grudge
against this Durade.... I need not meet Neale, it seems, I am
somewhat--overwrought. I wish to spare myself further excitement."

"Lee--listen!" returned General Lodge, violently. "Neale is a splendid
young man--the nerviest, best engineer I ever knew. I predicted great
things for him. They have come true."

"That doesn't interest me."

"You'll hear it, anyhow. He saved the life of this girl who has turned
out to be your daughter. He took care of her. He loved her--was engaged
to marry her.... Then he lost her. And after that he was half mad. It
nearly ruined him."

"I do not credit that. It was gambling, drink--and bad women that ruined
him."

"No!"

"But, pardon me, General. If--as you intimate--there was an attachment
between him and my unfortunate child, would he have become an associate
of gamblers and vicious women?"

"He would not. The nature of his fury, the retribution he visited upon
this damned Spaniard, prove the manner of man he is."

"Wild indeed. But hardly from a sense of loyalty. These camps breed
blood-spillers. I heard you say that."

"You'll hear me say something more, presently," retorted the other, with
heat scarcely controlled. "But we're wasting time. I don't insist that
you see Neale. That's your affair. It seems to me the least you could do
would be to thank him. I certainly advise you not to offer him gold. I
do insist, however, that you let him see the girl!"

"No!"

"But, man.... Say, McDermott, go fetch Neale in here."

Allie Lee heard all this strange talk with consternation. An
irresistible magnet drew her toward those curtains, which she grasped
with trembling hands, ready, but not able, to part them and enter the
room. It seemed that in there was a friend of Neale's whom she was going
to love, and an enemy whom she was going to hate. As for Neale seeing
her--at once--only death could rob her of that.

"General Lodge, I have no sympathy for Neale," came the cold voice of
Allison Lee.

There was no reply. Some one coughed. Footsteps sounded in the hallway,
and a hum of distant voices.

"You forget," continued Lee, "what happened not many hours ago when your
train was saved by that dare-devil Casey--the little book held tight in
his locked teeth--the letter meant for this Neale from one of Benton's
camp-women.... Your engineer read enough. You heard. I heard.... A
letter from a dying woman. She ac