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They slouched back to their cards and their bottle It had been bad enough to find them sullen and inhospitable, but as the liquor stiinations it orse to feel the covert looks stealing now and again toward the fitfully in the arether at the table

"I don't like them I'm afraid of them," she whispered

"We mustn't let them know it," Moya whispered in her ear

For an hour she had been racked by fears, had faced unflinchingly their low laughs and furtive glances

Now one of the men spoke "From Goldbanks?"

"Yes"

"You don't live there"

"No We belong to the English party--Mr Verinder's friends"

"Oh, Verinder's friends And which of you is his particular friend?" The sneer was unmistakable

"We started out this afternoon for wild flowers and the storht us," Moya hurried on

"So you're Verinder's friends, are you? Well, we don't think a whole lot of Mr Verinder out here"

Moya kne that the mention of Verinder's name had been a mistake The relations between the mine owners and the workn non-resident capitalist the English millionaire was especially obnoxious Moreover, his supercilious manners had not helped to endear hiot to his feet with a reckless laugh "No free lodgings here for Mr Verinder's friends You'n got to pay for your keep,eyes which refused to understand his"We'll pay whatever you ask and double the amount after we reach camp"

"Don't want your dirty money Gi' us a kiss, lass That's fair pay We ain't above kissing Verinder's friends if he is a rotten slave driver"

Moya rose to her slender height, and the flash of courage blazed in her eyes

"Sit down," she ordered

The man stopped in his tracks, airl

"Go on, Dave Don't let her bluff you," his cohed and irls driven to you by the storm I didn't think the ot a bit to learn, ood enough for 'ee, like enough"

The girl held up a hand "Listen!"

They could hear only the wild roar of the storm outside and the low sobs of Joyce as she lay crouched on the bed

"Well?" he growled "I'm listenin' What, then?"