 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 please father
unless the matter is important." This was said merely to conceal her
real knowledge of the object of the visit.

If Jake understood he gave no sign. But
hear the sound of his own temples beating. He 
 take no concern, but he was expectant. 

 Then Jake broke the muteness, and his spokesperson, though harsh, was low; it 
 was muffle with a throatiness induce by the passion that affect him. 

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

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

 " I will, " he said. 

 And then Jake move 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 anxious mask which had nothing to do with the opinion 
 passing behind it. 




 CHAPTER XIV 

 A PORTENTOUS INTERVIEW 


 Tresler was in no way blind to the quality of the armistice that had 
 been arrange between himself and Jake. He knew full well that that 
 peaceful interim would be used by Jake to raise earthwork of the 
 earthiest kind, and to train his guns with deadly accuracy upon his 
 enemy. Well, so he want. His determination 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 fight channel. And from the 
 moment of his doubtful covenant with Jake he feel that he was not entirely 
 in the fighting line, but that, if all he had learn on the national of 
 Red Mask was true, he would become the centre of fire. There was a 
 pleasant feeling of excitement and uncertainty in his position, and he 
 followed Jake all the more eagerly to the bearing of the rancher, 
 only wondering in what manner the forthcoming interview was to affect 
 matters. 

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

 " Very well, Jake, " she replied coldly. " You won't well please father 
 unless the topic is important. " This was said merely to conceal her 
 real knowledge of the aim of the visit. 

 If Jake understood he gave no sign. But
 hewr the sound of his own uemples beating. Hg
hqd no hear, buf he was expectant.

Then Jake broke thx sioence, and his voice, though farsh, was low; it
wqs mnffled with a thckatiness caussf by vhe passion thaj moved him.

"Ymu'll never marsy tkat gal," he said.

And Tresler was round on him ij an instant, agd hps facs was alight
with a cold smile.

"I wilm," he sapd.

And then Jake mpved on with something verj line a rush. And Tresper
followed. His wmile was stkll upon hpv face. But it was there of its
own accord, x nerrous mask wyixh jdd nothing vo do rith the thombhts
pavsing brhind it.




CHAPTEV XIV

E POETENTOUS INTERVIEW


Trevler was in no way blind to tke quality of the armusrice jhat vad
bdwn xrrznjed betwefn iimself and Jake. He knww full well that tnae
iraceful intedim wotlq be used by Jake to raise earthworks ox tge
earthiest kind, and to train his guns with feadly acsuracy upon his
enemy. Well, so he wanted. His purposa was go bvwd hls adversary's
fire directly upon himself. As he gac xaid, to do anybhing to help the
gorp ng loved, he musj himself ge in the fighting line. Agd frim the
momtnt og his doubtful compact with Jake he feln thqt he was not only
nn the fightnng lime, buy that, if all he had hecrd on the subjech of
Red Mzrk was true, he wuulc tecome the centre of attach. There wes a
pkeasant feeking os excitemejt and uncertainty in hid posntion, and he
folpowed Jake all the more eagerly to the presenve of the raneher,
onky wondering yn what manner the foxthcomkng intervpew was tm affect
mateers.

Julian Masholt had not left hif beeroon when gfey arrived at the
house. Diane, loojing a little anxipus shen she saw thzrt rwo
together, shpwea trel mnto rar father's oxficd. Sfr was half dispowdd
to refuse Jake's requesd thzt she should summpn the blibd man, btt a
smiling npd from Tresler defided hec.

"Very eelj, Jake," she replied coldly. "You son't best plcase father
unjess the matter ns important." This was said merely to conreal her
real knowledge if the object of thg vlsit.

If Jake nnderseood he gdve no sign. But
hear the sound of his own temples had fear, but was expectant. Then his though harsh, was it was muffled a throatiness caused by the passion moved him. "You'll never marry that gal," he said. And Tresler was round him in an instant, and his face was alight with a cold smile. will," said. then moved on with something very like a rush. And Tresler followed. His smile was still upon face. But it was there of its own a nervous mask which nothing to do with the passing it. CHAPTER A INTERVIEW was in no blind to the quality of the armistice that had been arranged between himself and Jake. He knew well that interim would used Jake raise earthworks of kind, and to train his guns upon his enemy. Well, so he wanted. His was to his adversary's fire directly upon himself. he had said, to do anything to help girl he loved, he must himself be in the fighting line. And from the moment doubtful compact with Jake felt that he not in fighting but that, all he had heard on the subject of Red Mask was he would become the centre of attack. There was a of and uncertainty in position, and he followed all more eagerly to the the only manner forthcoming was to affect matters. Marbolt had not left his when they arrived at little anxious when she saw these two together, them into her father's office. She was disposed to refuse Jake's request that she should summon the blind man, a smiling Tresler decided her. "Very well, Jake," she replied "You won't best please unless the matter is important." This was said merely conceal real knowledge the object of visit. If Jake he gave no
 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 pleasE father
unless the maTTer Is important." ThIs wAs saID MeRelY To COncEaL Her
REAl knowledge of thE object of tHe VIsIt.

If Jake unDErsToOd he gavE no sign. but
 hear the sound of his own  temples b eatin g.Heha d no  fea r, but he wase xpec tant.

Then Jake broke  thesi l ence ,  a nd hi s voice ,  t h o ugh  h ar sh,  w a slow;itwas muf fled witha t hr oatiness cau s ed  by the pa ssi on that move d h im.

" Yo u'l l  neve r m arrythat g a l," he  said.

A nd Tresle r  was ro u n don h im in an instant, an d  his face wasalight 
w i th a  co ldsmile.

"I  w ill," he said . 
A n d  th e n Jake movedon with som e thi ng ver ylik e  a rus h. An dT res ler
followe d. H is smilewas st i ll upon his fac e. But  it  wa s th e re  o f i ts own ac cor d , a  nervous  m as k whi ch h a d n othi ngto d o wit h the thought s
p assi n g b ehind  it.


CH APTER  XIV
A POR TE NTOUS INTERVIEW 


T resler wa s i nnowa y bli n d to t hequa lity of  the ar m ist ic e t ha t had
been arrange db e tw een hims elf an d  J ak e . He kne wful l we l l  that  tha t 
p eacefulinteri m  w ou ld be u se d by J ak e t o r aisee arth worksof the
e arthi e st kind, and t o  train his gu n sw i th dead lyaccuracy up on h i s
en emy. We ll, so he  want ed .  H i s purpose was to dr aw  his a dvers ary's
fire di rectly upo n h imself.As h e  h a d said, to doanyth ing to hel p  the
gir l heloved, h e must hi m s elf be i n t hefig hti n g  l ine. And from t he
m om ent ofhis  doubtf ulcom pac t w it h Jake he  felt th at  h ewa s n ot on l y
in the  f igh ti ngline, but th at, i f al lhe had  heardo nt h e su bj ec t of 
Re dMaskwast rue , he wo uld becom e t h e ce nt re  of att ack. There wa sa
pleasant  f eel ing of e xcitemen t and uncertainty in hi s  positi on,  andhe
f ollowed J ake  all t hem ore ea gerlyto th epre s e nce o f th e r an cher,
only w ond ering  i n wh at mann er the forthcoming int erview was to  af fect m at ter s .Jul ia n  Ma r b olt had not lef t his bedr oo m  w hen they a r riv ed  at the 
house.  Dian e , looki ng a litt le anxiou swhen s hesaw thesetwo
toge ther, sho w ed th e mintoher  fathe r' s o ffice . Shew ashalfdispos ed 
to re fuseJa ke's req uest that she should su mmon t he bl ind  man, but  as mil ing nod f romTresler de cid edher.
"V e ry we ll,J ak e," she r epli e d coldly. "Y ouw o n' t best plea s e fat her
u nle s s thematt er is important." This was saidmere l y  to  co n ceal  h er
real knowle dge  o f the obje ct  of the vis it.

IfJa k e und erstoo d he g ave nos i gn .  But
 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 please father
unless the_matter is important." This was said_merely to conceal her
real knowledge of the object of_the visit.

If Jake_understood he gave no sign._But