The scout saw that the woman still seemed frightened. “I was going to make a request of you, and I shall still make it,” he said, “though what has happened may cause you to think the thing will be dangerous. I take it for granted that you want to get even with Tim Benson for killing Ward.” Her courage seemed to come back with a bound. “It seems to me,” she said, with her first show of emotion, “that I would be willing to give my life for that!” “You will not have to give your life, I am sure; yet you will have to assume some risk in doing what I suggest. That is that you rejoin the show company you were with, which is still at the Casino. I think that would put you in a position where you could do some spying on Gopher Gabe’s place to good advantage.” “That certainly would be at the risk of my life, after what that eavesdropper must have heard,” she told him. “But are you willing to try it?” She drew a deep breath; then for a moment or so was silent. “Yes,” she said, “I will try it; I’ll rejoin the company, if the manager will take me back.” “I think he will do that. If he isn’t willing, a little money given to him quietly will work it. Yet I hardly need to say to you that in my opinion he will consider that you are worth more to him now than ever. You understand what I mean. Everybody has been talking about your supposed connection with the road agents. Could there be a better advertisement, from the manager’s standpoint?” Shepard slapped his knee. “Jest the ticket!” he said. “If the lady will consent to it.” She was silent again, as if thinking this over. “I can try it,” she declared quietly, rising. “But don’t forget that what I came here for was to ask you to watch Gopher Gabe’s. I will do what I can, from the Casino side, if I get the chance; but you men ought to be able to do a good deal more from the outside.” The scout was on his feet as she turned to the door. “Remember,” he said, “that while we are watching, we will take means to protect you as far as we can. We are anxious to get Benson.” “And mighty anxious to get Juniper Joe back in the jail,” added the sheriff. She stopped in the doorway, turning to the scout. “I may want to communicate with you. I shall use the post office if I do. I suppose _that_ can be trusted?” Nomad had come back to the door, along the hall. “Nothin’ kin be trusted in this hyer thievin’ town!” he declared. She smiled on the old trapper with what must have been something of a remnant of her vanished coquetry. “Not even me?” she said. Then she hurried along the hall and left the hotel, pulling her veil down as she did so. Nomad came on into the room, after a steady look at her back. “Waugh!” he said, flinging himself into a chair. “Is she playin’ fa’r er otherwise? Mebby so; I dunno.”