"Bucked the tiger a leetle, I reckon?" And he leered cunningly. "No; I rarely gamble." "Aw, tell that to the marines." Once more he jovially clapped me. "A young gent like you has to take a fling now and then. Hell, this is Benton, where everything goes and nobody the worse for it. You bet yuh! Trail along with me. Let's likker. Then I'll show you the ropes. I like your style. Yes, sir; I know a man when I see him." And he swore freely. "Another time, sir," I begged off. "I have an engagement this evening----" "O' course you have. Don't I know that, too, by Gawd? The when, where and who? Didn't she tell me to keep my eyes skinned for you, and to cotton to you when you come in? We'll find her, after we likker up." "She did?" "Why not? Ain't I a friend o' hern? You bet! Finest little woman in Benton. Trail to the trough along with me, pardner, and name your favor-ite. I've got a thirst like a Sioux buck with a robe to trade." "I'd rather not drink, thank you," I essayed; but he would have none of it. He seized me by the arm and hustled me on. "O' course you'll drink. Any gent I ax to drink has gotto drink. Name your pizen--make it champagne, if that's your brand. But the drinks are on me." So willy-nilly I was brought to the bar, where the line of men already loafing there made space. "Straight goods and the best you've got," my self-appointed pilot blared. "None o' your agency whiskey, either. What's yourn?" he asked of me. "The same as yours, sir," I bravely replied. With never a word the bartender shoved bottle and glasses to us. Jim rather unsteadily filled; I emulated, but to scanter measure. "Here's how," he volunteered. "May you never see the back of your neck." "Your health," I responded. We drank. The stuff may have been pure; at least it was stout and cut fiery way down my unwonted throat; the one draught infused me with a swagger and a sudden rosy view of life through a temporary mist of watering eyes. "A-ah! That puts guts into a man," quoth Jim. "Shall we have another? One more?" "Not now. The next shall be on me. Let's look around," I gasped. "We'll find her," he promised. "Take a stroll. I'll steer you right. Have a seegar, anyway." As smoking vied with drinking, here in the Big Tent where even the dancers cavorted with lighted cigars in their mouths, I saw fit to humor him. "Cigars it shall be, then. But I'll pay." And to my nod the bartender set out a box, from which we selected at twenty-five cents each. With my own "seegar" cocked up between my lips, and my revolver adequately heavy at my belt, I suffered the guidance of the importunate Jim.