"
There was a little flush on the girl's face. "It is all distasteful,
but as you will not give me back my word, I will keep it to the letter.
Still, it almost makes me reluctant to ask you a further favor."
"This one is promised before you ask it," said Winston quietly.
It cost Maud Barrington some trouble to make her wishes clear, and
Winston's smile was not wholly one of pleasure as he listened. One of
the young English lads, who was, it appeared, a distant connection of
the girl's, had been losing large sums of money at a gaming table, and
seeking other equally undesirable relaxations at the railroad
settlement. For the sake of his mother in England, Miss Barrington
desired him brought to his senses, but was afraid to appeal to the
Colonel, whose measures were occasionally more Draconic than wise.
"I will do what I can," said Winston. "Still, I am not sure that a lad
of the kind is worth your worrying over, and I am a trifle curious as
to what induced you to entrust the mission to me?"
The girl felt embarrassed, but she saw that an answer was expected.
"Since you ask, it occurred to me that you could do it better than
anybody else," she said.
"Please don't misunderstand me, but I fancy it is the other man who is
leading him away."
Winston smiled somewhat grimly. "Your meaning is quite plain, and I am
already looking forward to the encounter with my fellow-gambler. You
believe that I will prove a match for him."
Maud Barrington, to her annoyance, felt the blood creep to her
forehead, but she looked at the man steadily, noticing the quiet
forcefulness beneath his somewhat caustic amusement.
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