“Well, here we are, at last,” said Adrian.  “And my wife’s in the doorway waiting to scold me for being so late.”

Inez ran to meet him.  “I have been anxious,” she declared.  She noted her husband’s companion, and stepped back, startled.  “Adrian, who is this?”

“A daughter of the mur——­” Adrian began.  He broke the telltale word in two:  “Of James Burthen—­Benito’s partner.”

“Ah, then you know my brother,” Inez hailed her eagerly.  She took the girl’s hands in her own and pressed them.  “You must tell us all about him—­quickly.  We have waited long for news.”

“You are—­Mr. Windham’s sister?” cried the girl almost incredulously.  Then, with a swift abandonment to emotion she threw her arms about the elder woman’s neck and sobbed.

Stanley followed them into the house.  He saw Inez supporting her companion, soothing her in those mysterious ways which only women know.  His mind was stirred with grave perplexities.

A peremptory knock aroused him from his cogitations.  Could it be the gambler so soon?  He thought there were voices.  Several men, no doubt.

Inez called out in a whisper, “Who is there?”

“Go back,” her husband ordered.  “It’s all right, dear.  They’re friends of mine.”

Inez came out quickly and stood beside him, looking up into his face.  “You’re sure?  There’s no—­no danger?”

Again the rat-tat-tat upon the panel, more peremptory than before.  Stanley forced a laugh.  “Danger!  Why, of course not.  Just a business talk.  But go back and look after the girl.  I don’t want her coming out here while I’ve visitors.”  He patted her hand.  His arm about her shoulder he ushered her across the threshold of the inner chamber and closed the door.  Then he extinguished the lamp.  Hand on pistol he felt his way toward the outer portal and, with a sudden movement flung it wide.  Three men stood on the threshold.  They seemed puzzled by the darkness.  Out of it the host’s voice spoke:  “Who are you?  What do you wish?”

William Henry Brown was first to answer him.  “We want you, Adrian, at the hotel.  Can you come now—­quickly?”

“What for?” he asked suspiciously.  “Who sent you here?”

“Nobody,” came the cheery voice of Dr. Jones.  “There’s a friend of yours at Brown’s who needs you.”

“You mean—­McTurpin?

“Damn McTurpin!” spoke the third voice.  It was Nathan Spear’s.  “Light your lamp.  Nobody’s going to shoot you, Stanley....  It’s young Benito from the mines and down with fever.  He’s calling for you ... and for a girl named Alice....  If you can pacify him—­that will help a lot.  He’s pretty low.”

CHAPTER XXI

OUTFACING THE ENEMY

“Wait,” said Adrian, hurriedly.  He relighted the lamp and, going to the inner door, called softly.  There was an agitated rustle; then the door swung back and Stanley saw the figure of his wife, beside whom stood the light-haired girl.