of the victim led to the
sacrifice.

"He's shouldered his way to Win--he's shaking hands and trying not to
look hot. Hi! Pauline's sighted him already. She's making for him like
the arrow to the target."

"Or the bullet for the hippopotamus," suggested Macauley under his
breath in Chester's ear. He, too, began to reconnoiter.

"He's asking her if she saved the first one for him, and she's telling
him she did till the last minute. Her card is full now, but he shall
have the last half of this next one. Doesn't he look overjoyed?" Chester
chuckled wickedly.

"Where's Ellen? Why isn't she on deck now just as Red comes?" Macauley
began to fume. "She's behaved nobly all the evening so far--she might
have a rational being how for a partner as her reward. But I presume
she's sitting out somewhere with that chump of a Wardlaw--he follows her
like a shadow and she's too kindhearted to shake him. She's--"

A voice speaking softly from the lawn below the porch interrupted him.
"Is Doctor Burns urns here?" it asked.

Chester went over to the rail. "He's only just come, you know, Miss
Mathewson. You don't have to call him out this minute, do you?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Chester, but I'm afraid I must. The call is very
urgent."

"Tell 'em to get somebody else."

"Doctor Burns wouldn't like it--they're special friends of his."

"Oh, well--I suppose he'll see the bright side of getting out of that
Turkish bath in there, but I must say I wish I didn't have to pull
through this whole affair without his support," grumbled Chester as he
went in to find Burns, now disappeared into the inner rooms where the
music came from.

Red Pepper came out looking the name more than usual, for three rounds
of the floor had brought, as it seemed to him, every drop of blood
to his face, and his hair clung damply to his brow. He held a brief
colloquy with his office nurse.

"No way out; I'll have to go, Ches," said he with ill-concealed joy.

"But you'll hustle? You'll make one more try of it?" begged Chester.
"This thing won't break up early: not with Pauline pushing it. You'll be
back in time to be taken out and fed?"

"Try to," and Burns disappeared off the end of the porch.

"Lucky dog," gloomed Macauley. "The call's five miles out on the road
to the city. I'd like to be in the Green Imp for the spin Red'll make of
it. By George! I--"

He broke off suddenly, gave a hasty look around and bolted off the end
of the porch into the semidarknes