In an instant Nome was at her side, but she turned quickly from him to the colonel, who had risen from his chair.

“Please take me to my room,” she begged.  “Then—­then you can come back.”

Once more her face turned to Steele.  There was a pallor in it now that startled him.  For a few moments he stood alone, as Breed and Nome left the table.  He listened, and heard the opening and closing of a second door.

Then a footstep, and Nome reappeared.

“By Heaven, but she’s a beauty!” he exclaimed.  “I tell you, Steele—­”

Something in his companion’s eyes stopped him.  Two red spots burned in Steele’s cheeks as he advanced and gripped the other fiercely by the arm.

“Yes, she is pretty—­very pretty,” he said quietly, his fingers sinking deeper into Nome’s arm.  “Get your hat and coat, Nome.  I want to see you in the cabin.”

Behind them the door opened and closed again, and Steele shoved past his associate to meet Breed.

“Buck and I have a little matter to attend to over at the cabin,” he explained.  “When they—­when the colonel returns tell him we’ll be over to smoke an after-supper pipe with him a little later, will you?  And give our compliments to—­her.”  With a half-sneer on his lips he rejoined Nome, who stared hard at him, and followed him through the outer door.

“Now, what the devil does this mean?” Nome demanded when they were outside.  “If you have anything on your mind, Steele—­”

“I have,” interrupted Philip, “and I’m going to relieve myself of it.  Pretty?  She’s as beautiful as an angel, Buck—­the colonel’s wife, I mean.  And you—­” He laughed harshly.  “You’re always the lucky dog, Buck Nome.  You think she’s half in love with you now.  Too bad she was taken ill just at the psychological moment, as you might say, Buck.  Wonder what was the matter?”

“Don’t know,” growled Nome, conscious of something in the other’s voice which darkness concealed in his face.

“Of course, you don’t,” replied Steele.

“That’s why I am bringing you over to the cabin.  I am going to tell you just what happened when Mrs. Becker was taken ill, and when she turned a trifle pale, if you noticed sharply.  Buck.  It’s a good joke, a mighty good joke, and I know you will thoroughly appreciate it.”

He drew a step back when they came near the cabin, and Nome entered first.  Very coolly Philip turned and bolted the door.  Then, throwing off his coat, he pointed to the white skull dangling under the lamp.

“Allow me to introduce an old friend of mine, Buck—­M’sieur Janette, of Nelson House.”

With a sudden curse Nome leaped toward his companion, his face flaming, his hands clenched to strike—­only to look into the shining muzzle of Steele’s revolver, with Steele’s cold gray eyes glittering dangerously behind it.