d, last, remember this. Should
anything happen to me, you have two friends who will never let Jake
marry you. They are Joe and Arizona. Now, good-bye again."

"But nothing will happen to you--Jack?"

Every vestige of independence, every atom of the old self-reliance had
gone from the girl's manner. She clung to him, timid, loving, a
gentle, weak woman. Her whole soul was in her appeal and the look she
bestowed.

"I hope not. Courage, little woman. I remember the white dress, the
sad, dark little face beneath the straw sun-hat of the girl who knew
no fear when two men held thoughts of slaying each other, and were
almost in the act of putting them into execution. You must remember
her too."

"You are right, Jack. I will be brave and help you, if I can.
Good-bye."

They kissed once more, and Tresler hurried from the room with the
precipitancy of a man who can only hold to his purpose by an
ignominious flight from temptation.

Outside the door he paused, turned, and closed it carefully after him.
And then he listened intently. He had in no way been deceived by the
window business. He knew, as Diane knew, that she had closed it. Some
hand from outside had opened it; and he wondered whose had been the
hand, and what the purpose.

When he passed out of the kitchen, the whole aspect of the night had
changed. There was not a star visible, and the only light to guide him
was that which shone through the window. He waited while Diane bolted
the door, then, as nothing appeared to cause him alarm, he moved off.
He had to pass round the shed where Joe slept. This was an addition to
the kitchen, and quite shut off from the house. He groped his way
along the wall of it till he came to the door, which stood open. He
was half inclined to go in and rouse the little choreman. He felt that
he would like to tell his old friend of his luck, his happiness. Then
it flashed through his mind that, seeing the door was open, Joe might
still be abroad. So he contented himself with listening for the sound
of his breathing. All was still within; his conjecture was right. Joe
had not yet turned in.

He was puzzled. Where was Joe, and what was he doing at this hour of
the night?

He moved on slowly now. His thoughts were fully occupied. He was not
the man to let a single detail pass without careful analysis. And the
matter was curious. Especially in conjunction with the fact of the
open window. He attributed no treachery to Joe, but the thi