"What's that?" the sheriff cried, sitting up straighter in his chair. "If there is a gambling house running in my section of the country, it'll not run long!"
"I—I feel almost like a spy," Miss Blanchard said. "I hate to be an informer——"
"That is your duty in such a case, my dear young lady."
"I feel it so, under the circumstances," she said. "I do not want to cause my brother trouble—but I have talked it over with mother, and we decided that I should come and tell you the whole thing."
"I shall be glad to listen, Miss Blanchard."
"My brother is twenty-one, just a boy, you might say. When we came to the city, he happened to make the acquaintance of some other young men who belonged to a very fast set. He began remaining away from home until the early morning hours, and drinking too much, and all that."
"I understand, my dear young lady. Nine young men out of ten sow their wild oats."
"And he began spending more money than he could afford to spend. Mother and I began to fear he would dissipate his share of my father's estate, for he controls it since he has come of age. We wondered where the money was going—and finally we found out."
"Gambling joint?"
"Yes, sir. A gambling den in a large house in the most exclusive section of the city."