"Gad, suh! You know the lady?" the Colonel ejaculated. "I have the honor. We were passengers upon the same train." "Clean through, you mean?" queried Bill. "Yes. We happened to get on together, at Omaha." "I congratulate you, suh," affirmed the Colonel. "We were not aware, suh, that you had an acquaintance of that nature in this city." Again congratulation over my fortune! It mounted to my head, but I preserved decorum. "A casual acquaintance. We were merely travelers by the same route at the same time. And now if you will recommend a good eating place, and be my guests at supper, after that, as I have said, I must be excused. By the way, while I think of it," I carelessly added, "can you direct me how to get to the Big Tent?" "The Big Tent? If I am not intruding, suh, does your engagement comprise the Big Tent?" "Yes. But I failed to get the address." The Colonel swelled; his fishy eyes hardened upon me as with righteous indignation. "Suh, you are too damned innocent. You come here, suh, imposing as a stranger, suh, and throwing yourself on our goodness, suh, to entertain you; and you conceal your irons in the fiah under your hat, suh. Do we look green, suh? What is your vocation, suh? I believe, by gad, suh, that you are a common capper foh some infernal skinning game, or that you are a professional. Suh, I call your hand." I was about to retort hotly that I had not requested their chaperonage, and that my affair with My Lady and the Big Tent, howsoever they might take it, was my own; when Mr. Brady, who likewise had been glaring at me, growled morosely. "She's waitin' for you. You can square with us later, and if there's something doin' on the table we want a show." The black-clad figure had lingered beyond; ostensibly gazing into a window but now and again darting a glance in our direction. I accepted the glances as a token of inclination on her part; without saying another word to my ruffled body-guards I approached her. She received me with a quick turn of head as if not expecting, but with a ready smile. "Well, sir?" "Madam," I uttered foolishly, "good-evening." "You have left your friends?" "Very willingly. Whether they are really my friends I rather question. They have seen fit to escort me about, is all." "And I have rescued you?" She smiled again. "Believe me, sir, you would be better off alone. I know the gentlemen. They have been paid for their trouble, have they not?" "They have won a little at gambling, but in that I had no hand," I replied. "So far they have asked nothing more." "Certainly not. And you put up no stakes?" "Not a penny, madam. Why should I?"