nterior of the inn
was flung open, and Mrs. Quinn, breathless with exertion and excitement,
came scurrying across the room. In the doorway stood the host in
hesitancy and fear. Bending to Crispin's ear, Mrs. Quinn delivered her
message in a whisper that was heard by most of those who were about.

"Gone!" cried Crispin in consternation.

The woman pointed to her husband, and Crispin, understanding from this
that she referred him to the host, called to him.

"What know you, landlord?" he shouted. "Come hither, and tell me whither
is she gone!"

"I know not," replied the quaking host, adding the particulars of
Cynthia's departure, and the information that the lady seemed in great
anger.

"Saddle me a horse," cried Crispin, leaping to his feet, and pitching
Mr. Foster's trinket upon the table as though it were a thing of no
value. "Towards Denham you say they rode? Quick, man!" And as the host
departed he swept the gold and the ring he had won into his pockets
preparing to depart.

"Hoity toity!" cried Mr. Foster. "What sudden haste is this?"

"I am sorry, sir, that Fortune has been unkind to you, but I must go.
Circumstances have arisen which--"

"D--n your circumstances!" roared Foster, get ting on his feet. "You'll
not leave me thus!"

"With your permission, sir, I will."

"But you shall not have my permission!"

"Then I shall be so unfortunate as to go without it. But I shall
return."

"Sir, 'tis an old legend, that!"

Crispin turned about in despair. To be embroiled now might ruin
everything, and by a miracle he kept his temper. He had a moment to
spare while his horse was being saddled.

"Sir," he said, "if you have upon your pretty person trinkets to half
the value of what I have won from you, I'll stake the whole against
them on one throw, after which, no matter what the result, I take my
departure. Are you agreed?"

There was a murmur of admiration from those present at the recklessness
and the generosity of the proposal, and Foster was forced to accept it.
Two more rings he drew forth, a diamond from the ruffles at his throat,
and a pearl that he wore in his ear. The lot he set upon the board, and
Crispin threw the winning cast as the host entered to say that his horse
was ready.

He gathered the trinkets up, and with a polite word of regret he was
gone, leaving Mr. Harry Foster to meditate upon the pledging of one of
his horses to the landlord in discharge of his lodging.

And so it fell o