ld him insidiously.
"You didn't say what your services have been. Just a few little
errands, I suppose?"

"Never you mind," said Billy, with a profoundly impressive wink.
"That's between her and me. That ain't even fer you, Uncle Bostwick,"
and he winked again.

"Of course, of course," agreed Bostwick, half consumed with rage at the
old fellow's abominable manners and familiarity. "I'll keep you in
mind and add some reward of my own on the next occasion."

He bowed and hastened on his way, boiling with curiosity to know what
it was that Beth had been doing to require this old tattler's services.
He meant to ascertain. His suspicions went at once to Van, at thought
of whom he closed down his jaw like a vise.

Filled with a turmoil of thoughts that seethed in his brain, like a
brew in a witch's cauldron--some of them dark and some golden bright,
and some of them red with lust for many things--he proceeded down
street to McCoppet's place, to find himself locked out of the private
den, where the gambler was closeted with Lawrence.

CHAPTER XXX

BETH'S ONE EXPEDIENT

Bostwick had told Beth partial truths. His journey had been hard. His
car had been twice disabled on the desert; Lawrence had been difficult
to find; delays had confronted him at every turn, and not until
midnight of the day before this had he come with his quarry to
Goldite--barely in time to save the situation, with the reservation
opening less than forty-eight hours away.

He had not seen Glen, nor approached the town of Starlight closer than
fifteen miles. He had not yet expended Beth's money, which only that
morning had been practically placed at McCoppet's disposal. But having
finally landed the Government surveyor in camp, he had achieved the
first desirable end in the game they were playing, and matters were
moving at last with a speed to suit the most exacting.

During the interim between Searle's departure and return affairs had
been a trifle complicated in another direction--affairs that lay
between the gambler and his friend, the lumberman, big Trimmer.

Trimmer had been paid one thousand dollars only of the sum agreed upon
when he gave the name of Culver to the half-breed Indian, Cayuse. He
had since spent his money, demanded the balance due, and threatened
McCoppet with exposure, only to be met with a counter threat of prison
for life as the half-breed's accomplice in the crime. McCoppet meant
to pay a portion of the cr