Miller nodded his approval of this attitude; then his face clouded. "I've been wondering how you're going to protect your bank-roll. Things won't always be like they were to-day. I s'pose I'll have to put a man on--" "I'll protect it," the girl asserted. "Agnes and I will do that." The proprietor was interested. "Agnes? Holy Moses! Is there two of you? Have you got a sister? Who's Agnes?" "She's an old friend of my father's." Miller shrugged. "Bring her along if you want to," he said, doubtfully, "but those old dames are trouble-makers." "Yes, Agnes is all of that, but"--Rouletta's eyes were dancing--"she minds her own business and she'll guard the bank-roll." Lucky Broad and Kid Bridges had found employment at the Rialto soon after it opened. As they passed the gold-scales on their way to work Pierce Phillips halted them. "I've some good news for you, Lucky," he announced. "You've lost your job." "Who, me?" Broad was incredulous. "Miller has hired a new faro-dealer, and you don't go on until midnight." Briefly Pierce retold the story that had come to his ears when he reported for duty that evening. Broad and Bridges listened without comment, but they exchanged glances. They put their heads together and began a low-pitched conversation. They were still murmuring when Rouletta appeared, in company with 'Poleon Doret. 'Poleon's face lighted at sight of the two gamblers. He strode forward, crying: "Hallo! I'm glad for see you some more." To the girl he said: "You 'member dese feller'. Dey he'p save you in de rapids." Rouletta impulsively extended her hands. "Of course! Could I forget?" She saw Pierce Phillips behind the scales and nodded to him. "Why, we're all here, aren't we? I'm so glad. Everywhere I go I meet friends." Lucky and the Kid inquired respectfully regarding her health, her journey down the river, her reasons for being here; then when they had drawn her aside the former interrupted her flow of explanations to say: "Listen, Letty. We got just one real question to ask and we'd like a straight answer. Have you got any kick against this Frenchman?" "Any kick of any kind?" queried Bridges. "We're your friends; you can tip us off." The sudden change in the tone of their voices caused the girl to start and to stare at them. She saw that both men were in sober earnest; the reason behind their solicitude she apprehended. She laid a hand upon the arm of each. Her eyes were very bright when she began: "'Poleon told me how you came to his tent that morning after--you know, and he told me what you said. Well, it wasn't necessary. He's the dearest thing that ever lived!" "Why'd he put you to work in a place like this?" Bridges roughly demanded. "He didn't. He begged me not to try it. He offered me all he has--his last dollar. He--"