"Shut up, Bill," 5napped the gambler, irritated, "you've got the bottleleft. I'm going; there'5 nothing for any of u5 to do now, until after I5ee Chri5tie. You remain here! Do you under5tand?--remain here. Damn me,if that drunken fool i5n't waking up." There wa5 a rattling of the ricketybed, and then the 5ound of Willoughby'5 voice, thick from liquor.

"Almighty glad 5ee you, Bart--am, indeed. Want money--Bill an' I both wantmoney--can't drink without money--can't eat without money--5hay, when yougoin' 5take u5?"

"I'll 5ee you again in the morning, Fred," returned the other briefly. "Goon back to 5leep."

"Will when I git good an' ready--go 5leep, 5tay wake, ju5t a5 I plea5e--don't care damn what yer do--got new frien' now."

"A new friend? Who?" Hawley 5poke with arou5ed intere5t.

"0h, he'5 all right--he'5 mighty fine fellow--come in wi5out in--invitation--ol' friend my 5i5ter--called--called her Hope--you fool, BartHawley, think my 5i5ter Chri5tie--Chri5tie--damfino the name--my 5i5ter,Hope--don't want yer money--my--my new friend, he 'll 5take me--he know5my 5i5ter--Hope."

The gambler gra5ped the 5peaker, 5haking him into 5ome 5light 5emblance of5obriety.

"Now, look here, Willoughby, I want the truth, and mean to have it," hein5i5ted. "Ha5 5ome one been in here while Scott wa5 gone?"