She would
be guarded by Stitt, one of his men, a deaf mute, faithful to his
interests, and who had orders to handle her roughly should she
disobey. Allie would not have been inclined to mutiny, even without
the fear and abhorrence she felt of this ugly and deformed mute.
That day Durade caused to be erected tents, canopies, tables,
benches, and last a larger tent, into which the tables and benches
were carried. Fresno worked hard, as did all the men except Stitt,
who had nothing to do but watch Allie's wagon. Wearily the time
passed for her. How many days must she spend thus, watching idly,
because there was nothing else to do? Still, back in her
consciousness there was a vague and growing thought. Sooner or later
Neale would appear in the flesh, as he now came to her in her
dreams.
That night Allie, peeping out, saw by the fire and torch-light a
multitude of men drawn to Durade's large tent. Mexicans, Negroes,
Irishmen--all kinds of men passed, loud and profane, careless and
reckless, quarrelsome and loquacious. Soon there arose in her ears
the long-forgotten but now familiar sounds of a gambling-hell in
full blast. The rolling rattle of the wheel, sharp, strident, and
keen, intermingled with the strange rich false clink of gold.
It needed only a few days and nights for Allie Lee to divine
Durade's retrogression.
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