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her bag. Holding the ring over the dipper, she touched its side and the stone flicked upwards at one side from the setting. A brown powder trickled out of the cavity exposed beneath the raised stone, dribbling into the water where it dissolved without a visible trace.
    “That’s neat,” Tolling said as the girl pressed the stone back into place.
    “Rose Greenhow suggested it and had one made for each of us,” Belle replied. “Although I think she stole the idea from reading about the Borgia family in Italy. If he drinks that he’ll give you no trouble.”
    “He’ll drink it,” Tolling assured her.
    Although they both were prepared to deal with some reluctance on Ludlow’s part, it failed to materialise. Most likely he would have objected to accepting a drink if he retained his normal quick wits. However Belle’s treatment robbed him of them temporarily and pain gave him a thirst. So he drank greedily when Tolling held the dipper to his lips.
    “He’s taking it like a deacon at a whisky still,” grinned Tolling.
    Hearing the voice, Ludlow focussed his eyes first on the speaker, then past Tolling to where Belle stood. With a low curse, Ludlow tried to force himself up from the floor.
    “Don’t worry,” Belle told Tolling as he reached down to restrain Ludlow.
    Before Ludlow could do more than haul himself into a sitting position, the powder took effect. His body went limp and he slipped down to the floor again. Bending down, Tolling made a quick investigation and straightened up with a satisfied nod of his head.
    “He’s sleeping like a babe, Miss Boyd. That’s real potent stuff. What is it?”
    “I never learned its name,” the girl replied. “Rose got a supply of it from the clerk of a river-boat. He claimed that a small dose would put the biggest man to sleep and keep him that way for a couple of hours; and it does.”
    At that moment they heard the drumming of rapidly approaching hooves. Telling her companion to hide Ludlow under the straw, Belle darted to the stable door and looked out. A sigh of relief came from her as she recognised the rider who came towards her. If anything, she would find the problem of secretly removing Ludlow made easier with the newcomer’s arrival.

Chapter 4
    A Fortune in Counterfeit Money
    “Why Cousin Dusty,” Belle greeted, walking towards the small Texan as he halted his horse. “I surely didn’t expect to see you back here so soon.”
    For a moment the brunette wig fooled Dusty, then recognition came and he wondered what Belle might be doing at the stables.
    “I only just got in,” he replied, swinging from the saddle. “Was told back to the Regiment that Uncle Devil’s here and so I came right over. Is he up to the house, Belle?”
    “He surely is,” Belle agreed, speaking as she had all the time in the world for she saw a young officer approaching them. “I just knew something would happen to spoil his evening. ‘Beulah Parrish!’ I said when I saw you coming, ‘Cousin Dusty’s bringing trouble for Uncle Devil for certain sure.’ ”
    “You could be right at that, Cousin Beulah,” Dusty drawled, grinning inwardly at the neat way in which Belle passed on her current identity. “Only it’s nothing to spoil his night.”
    Catching Dusty’s head shake, the officer steered his companion by without doing more than call a greeting. One look at Dusty’s appearance told Belle that he had ridden long and hard. So she put aside her thoughts of asking him to help with removing Ludlow. Only a matter of some importance would bring Dusty to interrupt Ole Devil at the ball. With that in mind she reverted to her original idea of going to Buck Blaze for help.
    “Why not let Tolling tend to stabling your horse?” she suggested.
    “Who?”
    “He works here,” smiled the girl. “It will save time, Dusty.” Normally Dusty would not have thought to allow a stranger to take care of his horse, so he realised the girl must have good reason for making the