"My advice to you," he said to Markle, "is that if you think you're going to have to kill this man in self-defence"--he rolled an unabashed and comical eye at the company--"you be sure to see our old friend, Sheriff Webb, gets you to jail promptly." He heaved to his feet, "Might even send him advance word," he suggested, and waddled away toward the bar. A dead silence succeeded his departure. None of the younger men ventured a word. Finally Judge Girvin, with a belated idea of upholding the honour of the bench, turned to Keith. "Judge Caldwell's humour is a little trying at times, but he is essentially sound." The young Englishman, Morrell, uttered a high cackle. "Quite right," he observed; "he'll fix it all right for you, Markle." At the bad taste of what they thought an example of English stupidity every one sat aghast. Keith managed to cover the situation by ordering another round of drinks. Morrell seemed quite pleased with himself. "Got a rise out of the old Johnny, what?" he remarked to Keith aside. Judge Caldwell returned. The conversation became general. Vast projects were discussed with the light touch--public works, the purchase of a theatre for the town hall, the sale by auction of city or state lands, the extension of wharves, the granting of franchises, and many other affairs, involving, apparently, millions of money. All these things were spoken of as from the inside. Keith, sipping his drinks quietly, sat apart and listened. He felt himself in the current of big affairs. Occasionally, men sauntered by, paused a moment. Keith noticed that they greeted his companions with respect and deference. He experienced a feeling of being at the centre of things. The evening drifted by pleasantly. Along toward midnight, John Sherwood, without a hat, stopped long enough to exchange a few joking remarks, then sauntered on. "I know him," Keith told Calhoun Bennett. "That's John Sherwood. He's at our hotel. What does _he_ do?" "Oh, don't you know who he is?" replied Bennett. "He's the owner of this place." "A gambler?" cried Keith, a trifle dashed. "Biggest in town. But square." Keith for a moment was a little nonplussed. The sudden intimacy rose up to confront him. They were kind people, and Mrs. Sherwood was apparently everything she should be--but a public gambler! Of course he had no prejudices--but Nan-- VIII Keith returned to the hotel very late, and somewhat exalted. He was bubbling over with good stories, interesting information, and ideas; so he awakened Nan, and sat on the edge of the bed, and proceeded enthusiastically to tell her all about it. She was very sleepy. Also an exasperated inhabitant of the next room pounded on the thin partition. Reluctantly Keith desisted. It took him some time to get to sleep, as the excitement was seething in his veins.