during the past few weeks began to take its toll.
Two more spins of the wheel and she had lost her winnings and her original stake and was obliged to cash another thousand dollars. She rubbed her hands nervously. The others seemed to sense that a drama was being played out before them, with this beautiful, exquisitely dressed stranger and that relentlessly spinning roulette wheel in the chief rôles. They neglected their own play to observe the swiftly approaching denouement. Could she stave off disaster or would she go under with her last dollar?
The second thousand was swept away and Carmelita, white-faced, cashed the remaining three thousand and determined to risk it all upon a combination of three numbers that promised a return of five to one if she won. Fifteen thousand dollars—enough to pay back the original five, make good her I. O. U.'s with Hayden and have left five thousand to dispose of the sundry other bills that hung over her. Fifteen thousand—or nothing!
With a nervous movement of both hands she pushed all her chips upon the chosen numbers and stood back for the verdict. Every nerve in her body seemed to be stretched to the snapping point.
"Are you all through?" asked the unper-
