lady waiting."

"Oh!" gasped Betty.

A shining pyramid was made of the gold pieces. Then the cards were
shuffled and one of the serving men was called forward. He dealt one
card to each of the four men, face down, and stepped back. Then the
cards were turned over.

All were high cards, not one lower than a ten, yet with no two alike.
The one ace--the ace of hearts--lay in front of Jim Kendric.

CHAPTER XIV

CONCERNING A DIFFICULT SITUATION, RECKLESSLY INVITED

For a moment in the heavy silence Jim Kendric sat appalled by what he
had done. In the grip of the game he had been swayed by emotion, not
tarrying for cold logic during an episode when time raced. He had
hoped to win. Thus, since he had discovered that Rios, too, was
enamored of his beautiful cousin, he would tease an old enemy, sober
Bruce, jolt Barlow--and vex Betty. He had not thought of himself nor
of Zoraida.

No one spoke. The first sound was a long shuddering breath from young
Bruce; his face was a sick white save for a spot of red in each cheek;
his eyes looked like those of a man with a high fever. Kendric sat
staring in perplexity at the gold he had won, automatically gathering
it toward him. Zoraida stood motionless, displaying herself, awaiting
his eyes. And abruptly, when he lifted his head, his eyes went not to
her but to Betty.

The girl appeared fascinated and horrified. Jim's eyes pleaded with
her. Betty began to twist her hands in an agony of bewildered
emotions. Zoraida, waiting for Jim's face to be lifted to her and not
one accustomed to waiting on a man, frowned. But swiftly and before
anyone but the always watchful Rios saw, she broke the silence with her
little cooing laughter. She put out her two white arms toward the men
at the table, saying softly:

"Will you help me down, Senor Jim?"

Before Kendric could answer Bruce was on his feet. The blood charged
to his face so that the red spots were merged in the crimson flood.
The boy looked ready for murder.

"Stop this, Zoraida!" he said excitedly. "Stop it! You are mad. Have
you forgotten?--Good God!"

"Betty--" said Kendric, hardly knowing what he would say. He wanted
her to understand--

"Don't speak to me!" Betty flung the words at him passionately. "You
are an unthinkable beast!"

Bruce heard nothing that was said, saw nothing but Zoraida. He came
two steps toward her and then stopped, staring at her.

"Zoraida," he commanded, as one wh