limpse of white skirt and well-turned ankle as she ran swiftly up the
steep staircase, yet, almost at the same instant, he returned to earth
with a sudden shock, facing Mooney, when the latter turned slowly away
from the window and sneeringly confronted him. The mottled face was
unpleasantly twisted, a half-smoked cigar tilted between his lips. An
instant the half-angry eyes of the two men met.

"Must have made a conquest, from all appearances," ventured the leading
man with a knowing wink. "Not so damned hard to catch on with, is she,
when the right man tries it?"

There was a swift, passionate blow, a crash among the overturned
chairs, and Mooney, dazed and trembling, gazed up from the floor at the
rigid, erect figure towering threateningly above him, with squared
shoulders and clenched fists.

"Utter another word like that, you cur," said Winston, sternly, "and I
'll break your head. Don't you dare doubt that I 'll keep my word."

For a breathless moment he stood there, glowering down at the shrinking
wretch on the floor. Then, his face, still set and white with passion,
he turned contemptuously away. Mooney, cursing cowardly behind his
teeth, watched him ascend the stairs, but the younger man never so much
as glanced below.

CHAPTER IV

A NEW DEAL OF THE CARDS

For the two performances following there occurred an enforced shift of
actors, owing to Mr. Mooney's being somewhat indisposed; and Winston,
aided by considerable prompting from the others, succeeded in getting
through his lines, conscious of much good-natured guying out in front,
and not altogether insensible to Miss Norvell's efforts not to appear
amused. This experience left him in no pleasanter frame of mind, while
a wish to throw over the whole thing returned with renewed temptation.
Why not? What was he continuing to make such a fool of himself for,
anyhow? He was assuredly old enough to be done with chasing after
will-o'-the-wisps; and besides, there was his constant liability to
meet some old acquaintance who would blow the whole confounded story
through the Denver clubs. The thought of the probable sarcasm of his
fellows made him wince. Moreover, he was himself ashamed of his
actions. This actress was nothing to him; he thoroughly convinced
himself of that important fact at least twenty times a day. She was a
delightful companion, bright, witty, full of captivating character,
attractively winsome, to be sure, yet it was man