She withdrew to a dark corner and waited interminably till her messenger appeared at the head of the gallery stairs and beckoned to her.  As she drew near he said, “I told him there was a thousand-dollar filly flaggin’ him from the stage door, but he’s got a grouch an’ won’t stir.  He’s in number seven.”  She hesitated, at which he said, “Go on—­you’re in right;” then continued, reassuringly:  “Say, pal, if he’s your white-haired lad, you needn’t start no roughhouse, ‘cause he don’t flirt wit’ these dames none whatever.  Naw!  Take it from me.”

She entered the door her counsellor indicated to find Roy lounging back watching the dancers.  He turned inquiringly—­then, as she raised her veil, leaped to his feet and jerked the curtains to.

“Helen!  What are you doing here?”

“You must go away quickly,” she gasped.  “They’re trying to arrest you.”

“They!  Who?  Arrest me for what?”

“Voorhees and his men—­for riot, or something about last night.”

“Nonsense,” he said.  “I had no part in it.  You know that.”

“Yes, yes—­but you’re a Vigilante, and they’re after you and all your friends.  Your house is guarded and the town is alive with deputies.  They’ve planned to jail you on some pretext or other and hold you indefinitely.  Please go before it’s too late.”

“How do you know this?” he asked, gravely.

“I overheard them plotting.”

“Who?”

“Uncle Arthur and Mr. McNamara.”  She faced him squarely as she said it, and therefore saw the light flame up in his eyes as he cried: 

“And you came here to save me—­came here at the risk of your good name?”

“Of course.  I would have done the same for Dextry.”  The gladness died away, leaving him listless.

“Well, let them come.  I’m done, I guess.  I heard from Wheaton to-night.  He’s down and out, too—­some trouble with the ’Frisco courts about jurisdiction over these cases.  I don’t know that it’s worth while to fight any longer.”

“Listen,” she said.  “You must go.  I am sure there is a terrible wrong being done, and you and I must stop it.  I have seen the truth at last, and you’re in the right.  Please hide for a time at least.”

“Very well.  If you have taken sides with us there’s some hope left.  Thank you for the risk you ran in warning me.”

She had moved to the front of the compartment and was peering forth between the draperies when she stifled a cry.

“Too late!  Too late!  There they are.  Don’t part the curtains.  They’ll see you.”

Pushing through the gambling-hall were Voorhees and four others, seemingly in quest of some one.

“Run down the back stairs,” she breathed, and pushed him through the door.  He caught and held her hand with a last word of gratitude.  Then he was gone.  She drew down her veil and was about to follow when the door opened and he reappeared.