The Odds

s anxious about something and desirous to get them away. But Adela was full of excited comments and refused to be hurried, stopp

ing for her, and eventually Fletcher

y dear Fletcher. Some women were born to w

age from the billiard-room, moving with the lightness of w

d with you-when you

"Mr. Warden! Your play is simply ast

aid Warden. "I pl

ainly a champion. Now, when are you going to let Mr. Hill show

take anyone over that-surely! Not in person-anyhow! What, sir?"

enough to take care of us single-handed. Dot and I are not in the least

to the girl who still stood silently leaning

ly she spoke. "Wh

nger," he said, curtly. "If you wis

as of one who submits to the

nd to Adela with finalit

ing to take us to-

said Fl

im. "What time sh

ck," he said. "I shall be busy at the c

e softened. "Good-night," he said. "

mile, and turned to go. S

the stairs. "You little quiet mouse, what's t

ink I am too tired to enjoy

what has come to you?" Adela sur

id Dot. "I'll tell yo

She refrained from further bantering and g

he put a warm arm about the girl and held her c

le was more than she could bear. She cl

at the end of the week-instead of

he was after," said Adela

pered Dot,

t to wait? Shall I tell him for you, you poor lit

m! I-I couldn't give him-any particular reason for waiting. I

. I say, Dot-" she clasped the quivering form closer, with a sudden rar

n stung, and drew herself swiftly away. "

" said Adela, sensibly.

wide-eyed, unresting, while the hours crawled by, seeing only the vivid blue ey

drove her with relentless force. Dressing, she discovered the loss

ss the previous evening while at dinner. "It probably came out in that

y, I think," sa

t, she finished dressing in hast

and assured her that her property was not there. So she passed on along the passage to th

next moment sharply she drew back; for a man's figure rose up from the seat under the billiard-room window

go for a moment! I know what you're looking for. I

y low. He spoke to her as if he were speaking to a frightened ch

und it!" sh

oignant stab of memory went through her. So had he uttered it on that day so long, so

pered the words, yet she drew nearer to him, dr

so under his breat

swept over her. She swayed a lit

, as she found no words. "You're not-v

ice brought her eyes up to his face.

ould I? It-is a very l

r reassuringly. "But I never forgot you and your l

ered, a choked feeling a

e most hairbreadth escapes of my life? If Fletcher Hill had caught me, he wouldn't have shown much

safe-now!" Do

give me away

ed. "There's no danger of tha

the West, but it was right out. So I thought I'd come back here, and that was the turning-point. They took me on at

gain. "He is a dangerous man

is rather an abode of hate all round. But we'll clean

succeed," she sai

u," he sa

found hard to understand. Her agitation had subsided, leaving her with a piteous

e between them, then with

to give me ba

as nearly keeping it for good and a

r dress without words. Then, shyly, she

or two he stood so, absolutely motionless, his great hand grasping

aid, softly. "It was-decent of yo

mor went through her. For an insta

aid, quickly and passionat

through the passage, scarcely knowing wh

ut a glance. He turned and watched her with keen, alert eyes till she was out of

the little dusty conservatory, for somethi

le even than was his wont. He had to deal with one or two minor cases from the gold mine