wn to the water-hole off the hospital, at midnight, sharp.
Don't fail me," he said to Sitka Charley, who dropped in with the advice
that only one dog was lacking to fill the bill, and that that one would
be forthcoming in an hour or so. "Here's the sack. There's the scales.
Weigh out your own dust and don't bother me. I've got to get ready for
the ball."

Sitka Charley weighed out his pay and departed, carrying with him a
letter to Loraine Lisznayi, the contents of which he correctly imagined
to refer to a meeting at the water-hole of the hospital, at midnight,
sharp.

IV

Twice Freda sent messengers up to the Barracks, where the dance was in
full swing, and as often they came back without answers. Then she did
what only Freda could do--put on her furs, masked her face, and went up
herself to the Governor's ball. Now there happened to be a custom--not
an original one by any means--to which the official clique had long since
become addicted. It was a very wise custom, for it furnished protection
to the womankind of the officials and gave greater selectness to their
revels. Whenever a masquerade was given, a committee was chosen, the
sole function of which was to stand by the door and peep beneath each and
every mask. Most men did not clamor to be placed upon this committee,
while the very ones who least desired the honor were the ones whose
services were most required. The chaplain was not well enough acquainted
with the faces and places of the townspeople to know whom to admit and
whom to turn away. In like condition were the several other worthy
gentlemen who would have asked nothing better than to so serve. To fill
the coveted place, Mrs. McFee would have risked her chance of salvation,
and did, one night, when a certain trio passed in under her guns and
muddled things considerably before their identity was discovered.
Thereafter only the fit were chosen, and very ungracefully did they
respond.

On this particular night Prince was at the door. Pressure had been
brought to bear, and he had not yet recovered from amaze at his having
consented to undertake a task which bid fair to lose him half his
friends, merely for the sake of pleasing the other half. Three or four
of the men he had refused were men whom he had known on creek and
trail,--good comrades, but not exactly eligible for so select an affair.
He was canvassing the expediency of resigning the post there and then,
when a woman tripped in