ing-table bending over the large pad of white blotting-paper, in the fingers of one hand a pen. She sat very still, scarcely seeming to

e staircase. Somebody knocked on the door, which was inst

an to see

und the room, she saw only Ruby Str

r. Dale was here. There'

down. In her hand she held a slip of paper which she h

st now-for a few minu

turning round faced the door, he

wait." And the visitor entered the room.

senior. He was faultlessly dressed in a brown lounge suit, a light-coloured bowler placed jauntily on the back

tache when she did not take his hand. "I saw you both at the races, but I couldn't get near you for the crowd. Thought I would look

k and forced a s

mencing to fold up the slip of paper she had be

told me he plunged, on Paulus. As a matter of fact, I came round to con

He doesn't want your s

ned to her cheeks now. They were scarlet and her

ession on his face gradually changed. A c

. But let me tell you that poor old Rupert Dale is ruined. Broke to the world, and he'

pull on one of her gloves, then slipped the strip of folded paper underneath the g

ings you're hiding

ble and seated himself on the

u wouldn't be mad enough to marry a pauper, even if he were cad enough to want you to. So don't forget that I'm just as keen

stood with her back to the window so that her face was in

moment when you believe he is ruined to make love to the woman t

I love you when you get angry. You look as if you were a leading lady earning a

e than you've got, anyway," Ruby replied fiercely; "and

is place-look after you, pay your bills-make you my wife, anything you like in the world! I loved you long before he ever met you. I told you I didn't mean to give you up. I told you no one else should take you from m

ome seconds. Despard watched her with an amused smile. Sud

had better say to his face what

street. She saw Rupert coming slowly

by had left the letter Rupert had written to his father lying on the white sheet of blotting-paper. Almost unconsciously, Despard commenced to read it. Then he picked

of naughts. There was nothing particularly strange or remarkable about this. He would probably never have noticed it if the blotting-paper had not been clean. But, gradually,

t over the blotting-pad. And he read reflected the single word between the two

s back to the fireplace, his hands de

had a hundred pounds in the world. Indeed, he knew the state of the latter's finances better than the girl did. For only a few months ago, he had lent Rupert twenty-f

you had backed a loser and got plucked," Despard s

him on the back, "if you had had a fi

ed on Robert Des

is this a jo

or me! I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll all go out and have a bit

ing on the writing-table. Picking it up quickly he tore it int

ened. "You mean to say you backed Ambus

lightly. "Luckily, Ruby kept the ticket. We're going to draw the mo

the bet with?"

e ticket safely in my pocket. We shal

She, who had been so calm a little while ago when Rupert, believing t

oubles. They no longer existed. Death had stood at his elbow less than an hour ago. Now life was beckoning him to join in her revels. Cu

hire for his holidays and face his father with a light heart. In due time he would have another fling at the examination,

d to enjoy his good fortune; to

ried excitedly. "Where shall we dine? Trocader

his shoulder. "Do you mind if I wash my hands and mak

ound Rupert's neck. "Do you mind very much if I don't come with you to-night?" she

t you. I don't want Despard! Rather wish he hadn't come down to see

tightly. He felt her arms trembling

th a sudden revulsion of feeling. "Good heavens, you've saved m

er word," she whispered. "I'm so happy, really. It's just nerves

Rupert said; "or shall I tell Despard we do

nted sealed her lips. She knew that the two men were friends. She knew that Despard had it in his power to injure he

them and they all

home first," Ru

replied. "I have nearly two hours before I need g

had in her purse and whispered to him that she would get their winnings in the morning and bring them round to his rooms. She had

to the bookmaker's offices. It's possible t

en o'clock in the morning and all go round in a body. B

I am going to get the money

at the Piccadilly Tube Station and, blowing a

e to the grillro

aid, "if there's no mistake, and M

be a mistake?" R

s-"but she seemed rather mysterious about it. Per

ire to-morrow evening. I don't want the old man to hear I've been plucked. I mus

n't approve of betting or pretty girls

engaged to be married," he said at last. "I shan't tell the guv'nor un

ome time ago to spend his holidays at Blackthorn Farm. Too late, instinct warned

really comi

, and pot the rabbits. I'm a bit fed-up with town. If it's quite c

wire in the morning and tell the guv'nor we're coming.

s she?" De

, and the cab drew u

d on the electric lights. Curiously enough, he felt wide-awake and not in the least t

eath the paper-weight. Including the money he had borrowed, he owed close on three hundred pounds. He felt a shudder

back Ambuscade where would he have been now?

g a revolver to his breast, his finger on the tr

ver frame near a vase of flowers. He picked it u

sted you to bear the old name bravely and proudly; trusted you to re

only told him she had backed Ambuscade in order to save him from taking his life? Or

oming dawn. London was very still, and almost silent. Rupert raised his eyes to the sky. It was grey and the stars had all disappeared; half unconsciously he prayed as he had done when he was a

the lights h

told him that she had gone out nearly an hour previously. In spite of the late night, Rupert felt strangely elated and excited. The sunshine of the new day made him optimistic. He knew she had gone down to the

rehension. He rang for a cup of tea; when his land

th exaggerated carelessness. "I'm leaving town to-night for a week

by had had plenty of time to draw the money and reach his rooms!

clock. He lit another cigarette and stood

de his front door and Ruby Strode aligh

e cried. His only thought was the mon

lowed her. He heard her breath coming in quick, hard gasps,

t all right, h

ed out his han