avagery was
nothing more nor less than animal life in the woods.

"Mr. Dunbar," she said one day, "the red man of the forest is sometimes
a gambler, and when the spirit moves him he seeks one of his kind and
they spread a blanket under a tree or near the wigwam and there follow
their inclination, open and above board, without fear of police
interference. I am told that the young white man sometimes has a similar
temptation in the big city, but that you have laws which forbid
gambling. Nevertheless, because of political influence, there are booths
and rooms where gambling in its civilized conditions can be found. Will
you take Chiquita to a gambling den that she may see the class of men
found at the tables?"

The brows of the merchant contracted, he hesitated and stammered as he
attempted to reply.

"Why--er--my dear Senorita, you know I am a pillar of the church, an
active member in one of the largest wholesale houses in the west, and my
example to my young men, if I were to appear in a gambling room, would
be horrifying. I--er--"

"Oh, never mind if it would prove such a heinous offense; but why, Mr.
Dunbar, is it allowed, if respectable people can not go there without
contaminating themselves? Is it possible that the people of a great city
like this make laws and elect men to enforce those laws, and yet take no
notice of law breakers except to protect them?"

"Senorita, it is useless to make any defense. Our officeholders are
corrupt. The blush of shame rises to the face of respectable citizens
when they have to acknowledge that they elect men to office simply
because the candidate stands for party principles, only to make use of
the office for private gain or personal spite. Of course, there are
exceptions, but men do not go into political battles without expecting a
reward, and that reward must be a greater inducement than the one
offered in private life. But I will escort you to a gambling den and we
will see for ourselves."

"You certainly are brave to attempt it, and I shall thank you so much."

At ten o'clock a carriage drove up to a corner. Mr. Dunbar and Chiquita
alighted--"an English tourist and his valet." It was but a few steps to
the middle of the block where a pair of green covered swinging doors, on
polished brass hinges, continually but noiselessly opened and closed.
The bright glare of arc lights made the street as midday. The throngs of
pedestrians glanced at the green doors, and either passed