"I--I am not feeling well," she said. "Will you please excuse me?"

In an instant Nome was at her side, but she turned quickly from him to
the colonel, who had risen from his chair.

"Please take me to my room," she begged. "Then--then you can come back."

Once more her face turned to Steele. There was a pallor in it now that
startled him. For a few moments he stood alone, as Breed and Nome left
the table. He listened, and heard the opening and closing of a second
door.

Then a footstep, and Nome reappeared.

"By Heaven, but she's a beauty!" he exclaimed. "I tell you, Steele--"

Something in his companion's eyes stopped him. Two red spots burned in
Steele's cheeks as he advanced and gripped the other fiercely by the
arm.

"Yes, she is pretty--very pretty," he said quietly, his fingers sinking
deeper into Nome's arm. "Get your hat and coat, Nome. I want to see you
in the cabin."

Behind them the door opened and closed again, and Steele shoved past his
associate to meet Breed.

"Buck and I have a little matter to attend to over at the cabin," he
explained. "When they--when the colonel returns tell him we'll be over