s a decided snub to
Jake.

Tresler took his cue and began his story. He told it almost exactly as
he had told it to Jake, but with one slight difference: he gave no
undue emphasis to his presence in the vicinity of the house. And
Marbolt listened closely, the frowning brows bespeaking his
concentration, and his unmoving eyes his fixed attention. He listened
apparently unmoved to every detail, and displayed a wonderful
patience while Tresler went point for point over his arguments in
favor of his suspicions of Anton. Once only he permitted his sightless
glance to pass in Jake's direction, and that was at the linking of the
foreman's name with Tresler's suspicions. As his story came to an end
the blind man rested one elbow on the table, and propped his chin upon
his hand. The other hand coming into contact with a ruler lying
adjacent, he picked it up and thoughtfully tapped the table, while the
two men waited for him to speak.

At last he turned toward his foreman, and, with an impressive gesture,
indicated Tresler.

"This story is nothing new to us, Jake," he said. Then for a moment
his voice dropped, and took on a pained tone. "I only wish it were;
then we could afford to laugh at it. No, there can be no laughing
here. Past experience has taught us that. It is a matter of the
greatest seriousness--danger. So much for the main features. But there
are side issues, suspicions you have formed," turning back to Tresler,
"which I cannot altogether accept. Mind, I do not say flatly that you
are wrong, but I cannot accept them without question.

"Jake here has had suspicions of Anton. I know that, though he has
never asserted them to me in so direct a fashion as apparently he has
to you." He paused: then he went on in an introspective manner. "I am
getting on in years. I have already had a good innings right here on
this ranch. I have watched the country develop. I have seen the
settlers come, sow the seeds of their homesteads and small ranches,
and watched the crop grow. I have rented them grazing. I have sold
them stock. I have made money, and they have made money, and the
country has prospered. It is good to see these things; good for me,
especially, for I was the first here. I have been lord of the land,
and Jake my lieutenant. The old Indian days have gone, and I have
looked for nothing but peace and prosperity. I wanted prosperity, for
I admit I love it. I am a business man, and I do everything in
connection with th