faithful protector for years, Mr. Tresler," she
replied, her sweet round face blushing and smiling as she raised it to
him, "and I know his value and goodness. But--but I'd sooner have
you--ever so much."

And of her own accord she raised her other hand to his and placed it
trustfully within his only too willing clasp. But this was not
sufficient for Tresler. He reached out and took her in his powerful
arms and drew her to his breast. And when he released her there were
tears again in her eyes, but they were tears of happiness.

"And now, sweetheart, we must be practical again," he said. "If I am
to be your protector, I must not allow my inclination to interfere
with duty. Some day, when you are my wife, we shall be able to look
back on this time and be proud of our restraint. Just now it is hard.
It is a moment for kisses and happy dreams, and these things are
denied us----"

He broke off and started as the flutter of the linen blind behind him
drew his attention.

"I thought you shut the window," he said sharply.

"I thought I did; perhaps I didn't quite close it."

Diane was about to move over to investigate, but Tresler restrained
her.

"Wait."

He went instead. The window was open about six inches. He closed and
bolted it, and came back with a smile on his face that in no way
deceived the girl.

"Yes, you left it open," he said.

And Diane's reply was an unconvinced "Ah!"

"Now let us be quick," he went on. "Jake may threaten and bully, but
he can do nothing to really hurt you. You are safe from him. For,
before anything can possibly happen--I mean to you--I shall be on hand
to help you. Joe is our watch-dog, asking his pardon. You can take
heart in the thought that you are no longer alone. But developments
are imminent, and I want you to watch your father closely, and
endeavor to ascertain Jake's attitude toward him. This is my
fear--that Jake may put some nefarious scheme, as regards him, into
operation; such schemes as we cannot anticipate. He may even try to
silence me, or make me ineffective in some way before such time comes
along. He may adopt some way of getting rid of me----"

"What way?" There was a world of fear and anxiety in Diane's question,
and she drew up close to him as though she would protect him with her
own frail body.

Tresler shrugged. "I don't know. But it doesn't matter; I have my
plans arranged. The thing that is of more importance is the fact that
the night-riders are