His every motion was that of a man who had fully decided upon his course.

Through the widely opened doors of the Occidental streams of blue and red shirted men were constantly flowing in and out; a band played strenuously on the wide balcony overhead, while beside the entrance a loud-voiced "barker" proclaimed the many attractions within.

Hampton swung up the broad wooden steps and entered the bar-room, which was crowded by jostling figures, the ever-moving mass as yet good-natured, for the night was young.

At the lower end of the long, sloppy bar he stopped for a moment to nod to the fellow behind.
"Anything going on to-night worth while, Jim ?" he questioned, quietly.
"Rather stiff game, they tell me, just started in the back room," was the genial reply.

"Two Eastern suckers, with Red Slavin sitting in." The gambler passed on, pushing rather unceremoniously through the throng of perspiring humanity.