Pierce had not tasted liquor since his last farewell to Laure.  Three weeks of hard work in the open air had effected a chemical change in his make-up, a purification of his tissues, and as a result Best’s liquor mounted quickly to his head and warmed his blood.  When he had emptied his glass Laure saw that it was promptly refilled.

“So you’ve cut out the stampeding,” Morris continued.  “Good!  You’ve got sense.  Let the rough-necks do it.  This here Front Street is the best pay-streak in the Klondike and it won’t pinch out.  Why?  Because every miner empties his poke into it.”  The speaker nodded, and leaned more intimately against Phillips.  “They bring in their Bonanza dust and their El Dorado nuggets and salt our sluices.  That’s the system.  It’s simpler as falling down a log.  What?”

“Come to the good news,” Laure urged.

“This little woman hates you, don’t she?” Best winked.  “Just like she hates her right eye.  You got her going, kid.  Well, you can start work to-morrow.”

“Start work?  Where?” Pierce was bewildered.

“Miller’s looking for a gold-weigher.  We’ll put you out in the saloon proper.”

“’Saloon proper’?” Pierce shook his head in good-natured refusal.  “I dare say it’s the fault of my bringing-up, but—­I don’t think there’s any such thing.  I’m an outdoor person.  I’m one of the rough-necks who salts your sluice-boxes.  I think I’d better stick to the hills.  It’s mighty nice of you, though, and I’m much obliged.”

“Are you going to take that other offer?” Laure inquired.  When Pierce hesitated she laid hold of his other arm.  “I won’t let you go,” she cried.  “I want you here—­”

“Nonsense!” he protested.  “I can’t do anything for you.  I have nothing—­”

“Have I ever asked you for anything?” she blazed at him.  “I can take care of myself, but—­I want you.  I sha’n’t let you go.”

“Better think it over,” Best declared.  “We need a good man.”

“Yes!” Laure clung to Pierce’s hand.  “Don’t be in a hurry.  Anyhow, stay and dance with me while we talk about it.  We’ve never had a dance together.  Please!”

The proprietor of the theater was in a genial mood.  “Stick around,” he seconded.  “Your credit is good and it won’t worry me none if you never take up your tabs.  Laure has got the right idea; play ’em safe and sure, and let the other feller do the work.  Now we’ll have another bottle.”

The three of them were still standing at the bar when the curtain fell on the last vaudeville act and the audience swarmed out into the gambling-room of the main saloon.  Hastily, noisily, the chairs were removed from the dance floor, then the orchestra began a spirited two-step and a raucous-voiced caller broke into loud exhortations.  In a twinkling the room had refilled, this time with whirling couples.