te.

Allie recoiled in the divination that Durade saw her mother in her. No
memory, no love, no gold, no wager, could ever thwart the Spaniard.

"Senor, you tricked me!" he whispered.

"I beat you at your own game," said Hough. "My friends and your men
heard the stake--saw the game."

"Senor, I would not--bet--that girl--for any stake!"

"You have LOST her... Let me warn you, Durade. Be careful, once in your
life!... You're welcome to what gold is left there."

Durade shoved back the gold so fiercely that he upset the table, and its
contents jangled on the floor. The spill and the crash of a scattered
fortune released Durade's men from their motionless suspense. They began
to pick up the coins.

The Spaniard was halted by the gleam of a derringer in Hough's hand.
Hissing like a snake, Durade stood still, momentarily held back by a
fear that quickly gave place to insane rage.

"Shoot him!" said Ancliffe, with a coolness which proved his foresight.

One of Hough's friends swung a cane, smashing a lamp; then with like
swift action he broke the other lamp, instantly plunging the room into
darkness. This appeared to be the signal for Durade's men to break
loose into a mad scramble for the gold. Durade began to scream and rush
forward.

Allie felt herself drawn backward, along the wall, through her door.
It was not so dark in there. She distinguished Hough and Ancliffe. The
latter closed the door. Hough whispered to Allie, though the din in the
other room made such caution needless.

"Can we get out this way?" he asked.

"There's a window," replied Allie.

"Ancliffe, open it and get her out. I'll stop Durade if he comes in.
Hurry!"

While the Englishman opened the window Hough stood in front of the door
with both arms extended. Allie could just see his tall form in the pale
gloom. Pandemonium had begun in the other room, with Durade screaming
for lights, and his men yelling and fighting for the gold, and Hough's
friends struggling to get out. But they did not follow Hough into this
room and evidently must have thought he had escaped through the other
door.

"Come," said Ancliffe, touching Allie.

He helped her get out, and followed laboriously. Then he softly called
to Hough. The gambler let himself down swiftly and noiselessly.

"Now what?" he muttered.

They appeared to be in a narrow alley between a house of boards and a
house of canvas. Excited voices sounded inside this canvas structure and
eviden