was the center of observation. Especially
was he concerned with the direct stare of a young woman; she continued
to regard him steadfastly and he allowed his attention to be engaged
with her for a moment.

Latisan had his own mental tags for womankind; this was "a lady." He had
set himself back to the plane of the woods and his rough associates. He
felt a woodsman's naive embarrassment in the presence of a lady. Her
survey of him was rebuke for his language, he was sure. There could be
no other reason why "a lady" should look at a man who was fresh down
from the drive, unshaven and roughly garbed. She was from town, he could
see that. Those sparkling eyes seemed like something that was aimed at
him; he was in a helpless, hands-up sort of mood!

He pulled off his cap. He had the courageous frankness of sincere
manhood, at any rate. "I'm sorry! I was expecting dynamite. It didn't
come. I blew up just the same."

The lady smiled.

Then she turned and started away.

A stout man had been standing close behind her. Nobody among the
loungers at the railroad station entertained any doubt whatever as to
just what this stranger was. His clothes, his sample case, his ogling
eyes, his hat cockily perched on one side of his head proclaimed him "a
fresh drummer," according to Adonia estimates.

He leaped forward and caught step with the girl. "Pardon! But I'm going
your way! Allow me!" He set his hand on her traveling case.

She halted and frowned. "I thank you. I can carry it myself!"

"But I heard you asking the conductor the way to the hotel. I'm going
right there!"

"So am I, sir! But not in your company."

"Oh, come on and be sociable! We're the only two of our kind up among
these bushwhackers."

Miss Elsham's fellow operative was stressing his play; he grabbed away
her bag. "We may as well get a quick rise out of him," muttered
Crowley. It was a plan they had devised in case their man should help
their luck by being at the railroad station.

"I'll call an officer!" she threatened.

"You don't need to," Latisan informed her. He had followed the couple.
"Besides, there isn't any. The only place they need officers is in a
city where a rab like this is let run loose." He leaped to the stout
chap and yanked away the girl's bag. "I'll carry it if you're going to
the tavern."

She accepted his proffer with another smile--a smile into which she put
a touch of understanding comradeship. They walked along together.

T