It was gambling, drink--and bad women that
ruined him."
"No!"
"But, pardon me, General. If--as you intimate--there was an
attachment between him and my unfortunate child, would he have
become an associate of gamblers and vicious women?"
"He would not. The nature of his fury, the retribution he visited
upon this damned Spaniard, prove the manner of man he is."
"Wild indeed. But hardly from a sense of loyalty. These camps breed
blood-spillers. I heard you say that."
"You'll hear me say something more, presently," retorted the other,
with heat scarcely controlled. "But we're wasting time. I don't
insist that you see Neale. That's your affair. It seems to me the
least you could do would be to thank him. I certainly advise you not
to offer him gold. I do insist, however, that you let him see the
girl!"
"No!"
"But, man.... Say, McDermott, go fetch Neale in here."
Allie Lee heard all this strange talk with consternation. An
irresistible magnet drew her toward those curtains, which she
grasped with trembling hands, ready, but not able, to part them and
enter the room. It seemed that in there was a friend of Neale's whom
she was going to love, and an enemy whom she was going to hate. As
for Neale seeing her--at once--only death could rob her of that.
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