You’d better appear to be a winning gambler, even if you’re not. How’s this plan strike you?”

“Great—except for one thing,” I replied. “I hate to lie to Miss Sampson. She’s true blue, Steele.”

“Son, you haven’t got soft on her?”

“Not a bit. Maybe I’m soft on the little cousin. But I just like Miss Sampson—think she’s fine—could look up to her. And I hate to be different from what she thinks.”

“I understand, Russ,” he replied in his deep voice that had such quality to influence a man. “It’s no decent job. You’ll be ashamed before her. So would I. But here’s our work, the hardest ever cut out for Rangers. Think what depends upon it. And—”

“There’s something wrong with Miss Sampson’s father,” I interrupted.

“Something strange if not wrong. No man in this community is beyond us, Russ, or above suspicion. You’ve a great opportunity. I needn’t say use your eyes and ears as never before.”

“I hope Sampson turns out to be on the square,” I replied. “He might be a lax mayor, too good-natured to uphold law in a wild country. And his Southern pride would fire at interference. I don’t like him, but for his daughter’s sake I hope we’re wrong.”

Steele’s eyes, deep and gleaming in the moonlight, searched my face.

“Son, sure you’re not in love with her—you’ll not fall in love with her?”

“No. I am positive. Why?”

“Because in either case I’d likely have need of a new man in your place,” he said.

“Steele, you know something about Sampson—something more!” I exclaimed swiftly.

“No more than you. When I meet him face to face I may know more. Russ, when a fellow has been years at this game he has a sixth sense. Mine seldom fails me. I never yet faced the criminal who didn’t somehow betray fear—not so much fear of me, but fear of himself—his life, his deeds. That’s conscience, or if not, just realization of fate.”

Had that been the thing I imagined I had seen in Sampson’s face?

“I’m sorry Diane Sampson came out here,” I said impulsively.

Steele did not say he shared that feeling. He was looking out upon the moon-blanched level.

Some subtle thing in his face made me divine that he was thinking of the beautiful girl to whom he might bring disgrace and unhappiness.

Chapter 2

A KISS AND AN ARREST

A month had passed, a swift-flying time full of new life. Wonderful it was for me to think I was still in Diane Sampson’s employ.

It was the early morning hour of a day in May. The sun had not yet grown hot. Dew like diamond drops sparkled on the leaves and grass.