of indifference. "Still, since you insist, you may as well know first
as last. I went to see Miss Diane. I saw her----"

"An'?" There was a tense restraint in the monosyllable.

Tresler shrugged. "Miss Marbolt is my promised wife."

There was a deathly silence after his announcement. Tresler looked out
over the ranch. He seemed to see everything about him at once; even
Jake was in the strained focus, although he was not looking at him.
His nerves were strung, and seemed as though they were held in a vice.
He thought he could even hear the sound of his own temples beating. He
had no fear, but he was expectant.

Then Jake broke the silence, and his voice, though harsh, was low; it
was muffled with a throatiness caused by the passion that moved him.

"You'll never marry that gal," he said.

And Tresler was round on him in an instant, and his face was alight
with a cold smile.

"I will," he said.

And then Jake moved on with something very like a rush. And Tresler
followed. His smile was still upon his face. But it was there of its
own accord, a nervous mask which had nothing to do with the thoughts
passing behind it.

CHAPTER XIV

A PORTENTOUS INTERVIEW

Tresler was in no way blind to the quality of the armistice that had
been arranged between himself and Jake. He knew full well that that
peaceful interim would be used by Jake to raise earthworks of the
earthiest kind, and to train his guns with deadly accuracy upon his
enemy. Well, so he wanted. His purpose was to draw his adversary's
fire directly upon himself. As he had said, to do anything to help the
girl he loved, he must himself be in the fighting line. And from the
moment of his doubtful compact with Jake he felt that he was not only
in the fighting line, but that, if all he had heard on the subject of
Red Mask was true, he would become the centre of attack. There was a
pleasant feeling of excitement and uncertainty in his position, and he
followed Jake all the more eagerly to the presence of the rancher,
only wondering in what manner the forthcoming interview was to affect
matters.

Julian Marbolt had not left his bedroom when they arrived at the
house. Diane, looking a little anxious when she saw these two
together, showed them into her father's office. She was half disposed
to refuse Jake's request that she should summon the blind man, but a
smiling nod from Tresler decided her.

"Very well, Jake," she replied coldly. "You won't best ple