It was already occupied by four men, who were playing cards at a small, round table and smoking vigorously, entirely engrossed in their game.
None of them so much as glanced up, and the intruder hesitated an instant, quickly determining his course of action.

There was little choice left.

The girl would never make an appointment with him except through necessity, and it was manifestly his duty to protect her from observation.

Two of the men sitting there were strangers; the others he knew merely by sight, a tin-horn gambler called Charlie, and a sutler's clerk.

His decision was swift, and characteristic.
"Gents," he said, stepping up, and tapping the table sharply, "you 'll have to vamoose from here." "What the hell--" the gambler looked up into the gray eyes, and stopped.
"That's all right, Charlie," went on Hamlin coolly, one hand at his belt.
"Those are my orders, and they go.