staring past him, his money forgotten, his eyes beady and sharp,
his rat-like teeth showing in a grin of admiration. Swede Sam
glared from under his unkempt shock and felt uncertainly towards
the open collar of his flannel shirt where a kerchief should have
been. The men who were standing gazed at the new-comer, some with
surprise, others with a half smile of recognition.

Bronco glanced quickly over his shoulder, and as he did so the
breath caught in his throat--but for only an instant. A girl stood
so close beside him that the lace of her gown brushed his sleeve.
He was shuffling at the moment and dropped a card, then nodded to
her. speaking quietly, as he stooped to regain the pasteboard:

"Howdy, Cherry?"

She did not answer--only continued to look at the "lay-out." "What
a woman!" he thought. She was not too tall, with smoothly rounded
bust and hips, and long waist, all well displayed by her perfectly
fitting garments. Her face was oval, the mouth rather large, the
eyes of dark, dark-blue, prominently outlined under thin, silken
lids. Her dull-gold hair was combed low over the ears, and her
smile showed rows of sparkling teeth before it dived into twin
dimples. Strangest of all, it was an innocent face, the face and
smile of a school-girl.

The Kid finished his shuffling awkwardly and slid the cards into
the box. Then the woman spoke:

"Let me have your place, Bronco."