Let's clean out the house and set fire to it!"
cried another, a chum of the first speaker.

It required but a leader now to set the vile work going. And Wild Bill,
gradually recovering his reason, but mad with drink, and just realizing
that every dollar he had, and even his watch was gone, was just the man
for such a leader.

"I'll go! Show me the house, and we'll teach her to wear her own
clothes, and let men's games alone!" shouted Wild Bill.

In a moment fifty men were ready to go; but first they made an onslaught
on the wines and liquors on the sideboard of the gambling-room.

While they were madly pouring these down, the auburn-haired Texan
slipped from the room, and ran swiftly to the cottage of his fair
friend.

"Addie," he cried, as she opened the door to his signal, "Wild Bill and
a crowd of full fifty men are coming here to rob you, and burn your
house. They are mad with drink, and even if the stranger up stairs will
fight, we three can hardly hold them at bay, no matter how well we are
armed."

"We will not try it!" said Addie, calmly. "I had about made up my mind
to go with Persimmon Bill. He loves me so well that I ought to be able
and willing to bear hardship for his sake. I care little for the house
and furniture, though they are mine, and cost me a large sum. I have
money and jewelry that we can carry off. I will rouse my two servants
while you call your friend, and we will all be out of the house before
they come. No one but you knows where your horses are kept. Let that be
the place of rendezvous, and before daylight we will be safe with my
lover."

"No; I do not want to be with him yet, Addie. I will take this newly
found friend and see you safely in reach of Bill, but we will make camp
elsewhere till Bill's party starts. Then we'll be on his trail, and you
on ours, as it was agreed upon."

"As you, like, Jack. But we must hurry."

"All right--as soon as I bring my friend down, do you go with him and
your servants to the stable, carrying off what you can. Leave me here,
for I want to give Wild Bill one more good scare."

"As you please, but be careful he don't kill you while you scare him.
Ah! I hear their yells. We must be quick."

Willie Pond had a white, scared face when he came from his chamber, for
while the Texan told him of the danger, the yells and shouts of the
drunken ruffians who were approaching could be plainly heard. It seemed
as if a gang of demons from the lower regions