The hands, already deftly shuffling the cards for another deal, scarcely paused in their operations, nor did those cool, observant eyes once desert the sea of excited faces before him.

He asked a single brief question, nodded carelessly to the hastily spoken reply, and then, as the woman drew noiselessly away, Winston gazed directly into the startled black eyes of Senorita Mercedes.

Instantly she smiled merrily, exhibiting her white teeth.
"Ah, senor," and she bent toward him in seductive whisper, "so my lady, de Americana, let you escape early to-night!" Surprised at her recognition, he failed to answer immediately, and the girl touched him gently with her hand.
"De girls of my race never so cold, senor.

Try me some time, an' see." With a happy laugh and coquettish uplifting of the dark eyes, the dancer was as quickly gone, vanishing into the throng like a flash of red flame.

For a breathless moment Winston's admiring gaze followed, conscious merely of her dark beauty, her slender, graceful figure.