Beth Norvell did not remember ever having fainted in her life, yet for

a moment after these words reached her, all around grew dark, and she

was compelled to grasp the counter to keep from falling. The strain of

the long night, coupled with such unexpected news proving she had

arrived too late with her warning, served to daze her brain, to leave

her utterly unable either to think or plan. The clerk, alarmed by the

sudden pallor of her face, was at her side instantly, holding eagerly

forth that panacea for all fleshly ills in the West, a bottle of

whiskey.

"Good Lord, Miss, don't faint away!" he cried excitedly. "Here, just

take a swig of this; there 's plenty of water in it, and it's the stuff

to pull you through. There, that's better. Great Scott, but I sure

thought you was goin' to flop over that time." He assisted her to a

convenient chair, then stepped back, gazing curiously into her face,

the black bottle still in his hand. "What's the trouble, anyhow?" he

questioned, his mind filled with sudden suspicion. "That--that fellow

did n't throw you, did he?"

Miss Norvell, her fingers clasping the chair arm for support, rose

hurriedly to her feet, a red flush sweeping into her pallid cheeks.

For an instant her intense indignation held her speechless.

"'Throw' me? What is it you mean?" she exclaimed, her voice faltering.

"Do you rank me with those shameless creatures out yonder? It is for

Mr. Winston's sake I sought word with him; it has nothing whatever to

do with myself. I chanced to learn news of the utmost importance, news

which he must possess before morning; yet it is not a message I can

trust to any one else. My God! what can I do?" She paused irresolute,

her hands pressing her temples. The boy, his interest aroused, took a

step forward.

"Can I be of service?"

"Oh, I hardly know; I scarcely seem able to think. Could--could you

leave here for just ten minutes--long enough to go to the dance hall at

the Gayety?"

"Sure thing; there 's nothin' doin'."

"Then please go; find a big, red-headed miner there named

Brown--'Stutter' Brown they call him--and bring him back here to me.

If--if he is n't there any longer, then get Mercedes, the Mexican

dancer. You know her, don't you?"

The clerk nodded, reaching for his hat.

"Get one of those two; oh, you must get one of them. Tell them I say

it is most important."

There was a terrible earnestness about the girl's words and manner,

which instantly impressed the lad with the necessity for immediate

haste. He was off at a run, slamming the door heavily behind him, and

plunging headlong into the black street. As he disappeared, Miss

Norvell sank back into the vacated chair, and sat there breathing

heavily, her eyes fastened upon the drunken man opposite, her natural

coolness and resource slowly emerging from out the haze of

disappointment. Brown could surely be trusted in this emergency, for

his interest was only second to her own. But why had she not told him

the entire story before? Why, when she had opportunity, did she fail

to reveal to him Farnham's threats, and warn him against impending

danger? She realized fully now the possible injury wrought by her

secrecy. She felt far too nervous, too intensely anxious, to remain

long quiet; her eyes caught the ticking timepiece hanging above the

clerk's desk, and noted the hour with a start of surprise. It was

already after two. Once, twice, thrice she paced across the floor of

the office and stood for a moment striving to peer through the dirty

window-glass into the blackness without, faintly splotched with gleams

of yellow light. Finally, she flung back the door and ventured forth

upon the shadowed porch, standing behind the low railing, where those

passing below were little likely to notice her presence. Her head

throbbed and ached, and she loosened her heavy hair, pressing her palms

to the temples. The boy returned at last hurriedly, bare-headed, but

unaccompanied, and she met him at the top of the steps, realizing, even

before he spoke, that those she sought had not been found.




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