“As soon as we can get ready. I believe my old pard must be getting the horses under saddle now.”
“I’ll be ready by the time you are,” said the gambler.
Opening the secret drawer, he started to put the locket and the ring into it; then, changing his mind, he put only the ring into the drawer, and placed the locket in an inside pocket of his coat.
“Great events,” said Buffalo Bill, “sometimes hang upon trifling incidents.”
He had reference to Lawless’ getting the locket, looking at the pictures inside, and suddenly making up his mind to overhaul the stage and spirit away the gambler’s wife.
At the same time, the placing of the locket in his breast pocket by Gentleman Jim, though a trifling incident, was destined to have a vital bearing on the trend of the gambler’s affairs.
Leaving Gentleman Jim to make his preparations, the scout hurried out of the Alcazar and off down the street toward the Lucky Strike Hotel.
Spangler was wabbling excitedly about in front of his hostelry, spluttering his ideas and opinions regarding the double hold-up to Dell Dauntless. At sight of the scout, the girl ran toward him, her eyes sparkling.
“At last, pard,” she cried, “your chance has come to bring things to a finish in this matter of Captain Lawless.”
“Right you are, Dell,” he answered: “and the chance has come somewhat before I had expected it.”