After awhile he felt he could afford to grin over the incident.

"Never knowed the difference," he boasted as he rode away.

"Nine men outa ten woulda overplayed their hand, right there." Just how far he had overplayed his hand, that man never knew.

Far enough to send Mary V to her room rather white and scared; shaking, too, with excitement.

She stood by the window, looking out at the moon-lighted yard with its wind-beaten flowers.