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"Aye, mayhap," returned a lanky, red-haired sailor, "but there's them o' us, like you and me and Andy, yonder, what isn't hankerin' for courts." McTurpin leaned forward, and his voice diminished so that Benito could scarcely hear his words. "Don't be afraid," he said. "I've got my men selected for the Rincon business, a full dozen of 'em ... all with clean records, mind ye. Nothing against them."
"Half a dozen of my old servants are there with Mrs. Windham and myself. I've bought a little stock on credit and all's going well." For a moment Parker said nothing; then, almost in Benito's ear, he spoke a warning: "Do you know that McTurpin is back?" Benito, in a mood of high excitement, strode uphill toward the Bella Union, pondering the significance of Parker's startling information.
"I shall claim the first dance, Senorita," said the sailor, bowing low. Her heart leaped as they left him, and she squeezed her brother's arm. "He is a kindly man, Benito mio. I shall tell him of this interloper this McTurpin. Have no fear." Benito smiled a little dubiously. He had less faith than Inez in the future government of the Americans.
"Oh! sir, if there is a heart in your breast you will help me to escape to find my father." Her tone, despite agitation, was that of extreme youth. She was not of the class that frequent gambling halls. Both her dress and her manner proclaimed that. Adrian was perplexed. "Are you " he hesitated, fearing to impart offense, "are you the girl who came with McTurpin?" "Yes, yes," she spoke hurriedly.
His finger pointed to a trio of the nearest players, and their nods sufficed him, evidently. He weighted the contract with a gold-piece from his own plethoric pile. "Show down! Show down!" cried the others. Triumphantly Benito laid five cards upon the table. Four of them were kings. A little cry of satisfaction arose, for sympathy was with the younger player. McTurpin sat unmoved.
There was trouble in his eyes. With a swift apology he drew his sister aside. "McTurpin," he panted. "He is back ... with a dozen men ... riding toward the rancho." Dazed with the suddenness of Benito's announcement and its menacing augury, Inez sought her father and Adrian. The latter acted instantly. "Do not tell your wife," he said to Windham. "There may be nothing amiss.
The two men's glances countered, held each other, one calm, dignified, unafraid; the other, murderous, searching, baffled. Presently, McTurpin turned and strode away. Windham looked after the departing gambler. "'Fraid I've spoiled his morning," he remarked to Nathan Spear. "Yes to chance a knife or bullet in the back," retorted Spear, uneasily.
On the veranda stood the stocky figure of Proprietor Brown, smoking a long pipe and conversing with half a dozen roughly dressed men who lounged about the entrance. He looked up wonderingly as McTurpin approached. The latter drew him to one side and appeared to make certain demands to which Brown acquiesced by a curt nod, as if reluctant.
With, a gasp she looked up at McTurpin. Beside the gambler, whose eyes burned angrily, Inez perceived a tall, lean, bearded stranger. "Let me go!" she demanded. "I have brought the parson," said McTurpin. "We can be married at once." "I I let us wait a little," stammered Inez. "Why?" the gambler asked suspiciously. "Where were you going?" "Nowhere," she evaded, "for a walk "
He related the incident of the veranda. Spear laughed meaningly. "That's the second one you've taken from McTurpin; he'll be loving you a heap, old man." "He doesn't know it yet," Brown said. "But keep out of his way tomorrow." Stanley's teeth met with a little click. "When I've seen Benito, Alec McTurpin and I will have a showdown. But tell me of the boy. What brought him here?"
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