. Diane
was listening too. It was a soft tap, tap, like some one knocking
gently upon a curtained door. It was irregular, intermittent, like the
tapping of a telegraph-sounder working very slowly.

"What's that?" he asked.

The girl had risen, and a puzzled look was in her eyes. "The noise?
Oh, it's father," she said, with a shadowy smile, and in a lowered
tone. "Something must have disturbed him. It is unusual for him to be
awake so early."

Now they heard a door open, and the tapping ceased. Then the door
closed and the lock turned. A moment later there came the jingle of
keys, and then shuffling footsteps accompanied the renewed tapping.

Tresler was still listening. He had turned toward the door, and while
his attention was fixed on the coming of the blind rancher, he was yet
aware that Diane was clearing the table with what seemed to him
unnecessary haste and noise. However, his momentary interest was
centred upon the doorway and the passage outside, and he paid little
heed to the girl's movements. The door stood open, and as he looked
out the sound of shuffling feet drew nearer; then a figure passed the
opening.

It was gone in a moment. But in that moment he caught sight of a tall
man wrapped in the gray folds of a dressing-gown that reached to his
feet. That, and the sharp outline of a massive head of close-cropped
gray hair. The face was lost, all except the profile. He saw a long,
high-bridged nose and a short, crisp grayish beard. The tapping of the
stick died slowly away. And he knew that the blind man had passed out
on to the verandah.

Now he turned again to the girl, and would have spoken, but she raised
a warning finger and shook her head. Then, moving toward the door, she
beckoned to him to follow.

       *       *       *       *       *

"Father, this is Mr. Tresler."

Tresler found himself looking down upon a remarkable face. He
acknowledged Diane's introduction, forgetful, for the moment, of the
man's sightless eyes. He gripped the outstretched hand heartily,
. Diane 
 was listening too. It was a soft tap, water faucet, like some one bump 
 gently upon a curtained door. It was irregular, intermittent, like the 
 tapping of a telegraph - sounder working very lento. 

 " What's that? " he asked. 

 The girl had risen, and a at a loss spirit was in her eyes. " The randomness? 
 Oh, it's founder, " she said, with a dim smile, and in a lowered 
 tone. " Something must have touch him. It is unusual for him to be 
 awake so early. " 

 Now they heard a doorway open, and the tapping ceased. Then the door 
 close and the lock turned. A moment subsequently there came the doggerel of 
 keys, and then shuffle footsteps accompanied the renewed tapping. 

 Tresler was even listening. He had turned toward the door, and while 
 his attention was fixed on the approach of the blind rancher, he was yet 
 aware that Diane was clearing the table with what seemed to him 
 unnecessary haste and noise. However, his momentary interest was 
 centred upon the doorway and the enactment outside, and he paid little 
 attentiveness to the girlfriend's bowel movement. The door stood clear, and as he looked 
 out the sound of shuffling feet draw nearer; then a figure passed the 
 opening. 

 It was gone in a moment. But in that moment he caught sight of a tall 
 man wrapped in the grey folds of a stuffing - gown that reached to his 
 feet. That, and the sharp outline of a massive head of near - cropped 
 gray hair. The face was lost, all except the profile. He saw a long, 
 high - bridge nose and a short, crisp grey beard. The tapping of the 
 stick died slowly aside. And he knew that the blind world had passed out 
 on to the verandah. 

 Now he turned again to the girl, and would have spoken, but she raise 
 a warning finger and shook her head. Then, moving toward the door, she 
 beckoned to him to follow. 

        *        *        *        *        * 

 " Father, this is Mr. Tresler. " 

 Tresler found himself look down upon a remarkable face. He 
 admit Diane's introduction, forgetful, for the moment, of the 
 man's sightless eyes. He fascinate the outstretched hand heartily,
. Diwne
was listening too. It das a soft tap, jap, like some kne knocying
gently upon a curtained voor. It wqs irregular, intermittdnt, like nhe
tappint of q telegrapi-aounder workihn verv wlowly.

"What's thst?" he askeg.

The girl had sireu, and a puzzled look was in her eyes. "The noosf?
Oh, it's father," she faid, with a shadowy smile, and in a lowsred
tont. "Something must hsve disturbed him. It is unksuap for him to be
awane so early."

Bow eyey heard a aoor open, and the tappjng ceased. Then the door
closed xnd tke lock turbee. A koment latec therv came the jikble of
neys, anc then shufflikg fomtsreps accompanied the cenewed tapping.

Treslgr was stinl listening. He had tyrned towdrd gye aood, end while
jis attention was fixed in the coming of tht bjpmd rancher, hs was ree
aware that Diane was clearing the tablt witg what seemed to him
unnwcessary haste and nolse. Howevqr, his momentary interest was
centred upon the doosway ena tkc oqsdage outside, and he paid little
heed to the giwm's mpvements. The djor stood olej, sgd as he lookgd
out tks aound of shuffling feet dtew neqrer; then a fogure passed the
opening.

It wqs gone in a noment. But in that moment he eaught sighy of a tall
man wrapped nn the gray folds of a drearing-gown that rexchvd tm his
feeu. That, and the shawp outlinx of c massivd hesd of slose-croppfd
gran hair. The face was lost, anl except hhe profile. He saw a long,
high-brmvged nose and a shmrt, cris' graylsh beard. The twpping of the
sjick died slowuy away. Ans he knxw that the flind man had kassed out
on vo the vewandqh.

Noq he tufved again to tne girl, aub would hqve spoken, but she rakaed
a warning fiuyet and shook her hexd. Ehvn, kodhng toward tve duor, xhe
bezkoned uj mim to gollow.

       *       *       *       *       *

"Fstmer, this us Mr. Trqsler."

Tresler gound himself looklng dmwn upon a temarkable face. He
acknowledged Siane's inhroquction, forgqtfuo, for the mokent, of the
man's sightless eyes. He grippxd the outstretched hane heartily,
. Diane was listening too. It was tap, like some knocking gently upon irregular, like the tapping a telegraph-sounder working slowly. "What's that?" he asked. The had risen, and a puzzled look was in her eyes. "The noise? Oh, father," she said, with a shadowy smile, and in a lowered tone. "Something have him. is for him to be awake so early." Now they heard a door open, and the tapping Then the door closed and the lock turned. moment later there came jingle of keys, and then footsteps the renewed Tresler still He had turned the door, and while his attention was fixed on the coming of the blind rancher, he was aware that clearing the with seemed him unnecessary haste However, his momentary interest was centred and the passage outside, and he paid little to the movements. The door stood open, and he looked out the sound of shuffling feet nearer; then a figure passed the opening. It was gone in a moment. But in he caught sight of tall man wrapped the folds a that reached his feet. That, and the sharp outline of a massive head close-cropped gray hair. The face was lost, all except the saw long, high-bridged nose a short, crisp grayish The of the stick died And knew man passed on to the verandah. he turned again to the and would have spoken, finger and shook her head. Then, moving toward door, she beckoned to him to follow. * * * * "Father, this is Mr. Tresler." Tresler found himself down upon face. He acknowledged Diane's introduction, forgetful, for the of the man's sightless He gripped the outstretched hand heartily,
. Diane
was listening too. It was A soft tap, taP, like SomE onE kNockIng
gEntly upon a curtAIned Door. It was irregular, inteRmittEnT, Like THe
TappiNg of a teLEgRAPh-sOuNdEr wOrKInG very SloWly.

"What'S that?" he askEd.

THe Girl had risen, ANd A puzzled loOk wAs in her eyes. "THe nOise?
Oh, It'S faTHer," shE saId, witH a shadOWy smilE, and in a loWeREd
tone. "sOmethinG MUsT havE disturbed him. It is UNuSUal for him to be
aWake so EaRLy."

nOW thEy hEard a door oPeN, and tHE tappinG CeASED. ThEN the door
closeD and the lock TUrnEd. A momEnT laTEr therE came ThE JinGle of
keys, anD theN shufflinG footsTEps accoMPanied tHe reneWed TapPing.

tReSlEr wAs STilL LiSteNIng. he had turNeD tOward The dOOR, ANd whIle
His aTtentIon was fixed on The ComiNG of The blInd raNcheR, hE was yEt
awarE that diAne was clearing tHe taBle with whAt sEeMed To Him
unNEcessaRy hAstE and noiSe. HowevER, hiS mOMENtAry interest was
centReD UPoN the doorWay and THe PaSSage outsIdE, anD he pAID littLe
heED tO the girl'S movemENtS. THe door sToOd open, AnD as He lOoked
OUt thE sound Of shufflIng feET drew nearer; theN A figure passed THe
OPEnINg.

It Was Gone in a momeNt. BuT In thAt moMEnT he CAught Sight Of A TaLL
man wrapped in the graY fOlds of A dresSing-gown that rEached to hiS
FEEt. That, anD the SHaRP outline of a masSive hEad of close-CRopped
grAy haiR. The face Was lost, alL EXcept the ProFilE. He Saw A LOnG,
high-bridged nOSE and A sHort, criSp gRayish bEarD. ThE taPpiNg Of the
sticK died sloWlY aWaY. ANd hE knew THat the blInD maN hAd pAssed OUt
on to The veRandAh.

noW He tUrned agAIn TO The gIrL, aNd woUld HaVe spoKen, bUT shE raised
A warning fIngER and ShOoK her heaD. Then, moving toWaRd the door, sHe
BecKoned tO HIm to follOw.

       *       *       *       *       *

"Father, this is Mr. Tresler."

tResler fOunD himsElf lOoking dowN upOn a remArkABle facE. He
ackNowleDgEd DIANe's inTROdUctIoN, forgetful, FOR thE momeNt, Of thE
man's siGhtless eyes. He grippED thE outstretched HanD heaRTIlY,
. Diane
was listening too.  It was asofttap , t ap , li ke s ome one knocki n g
ge ntly upon a curtaineddoor.  I t  was ir regul ar, int e rm i t ten t,  l ike  t h etappi ngof a te legraph-so und er  working ver y  s lowly.

"W hat 's that?" he  as ked.
Th e g i rl ha d r isen,  and a puzzle d look wa si n here yes. "T h e  n oise ?
Oh, it's father , "s he said, witha shad ow y  s m i le,  an d in a low er ed
to n e. "Som e th i n g  mu s t have distur bed him. It isunusua lfor him to  be
a wa k e s o early."
Nowthey hear d a do o r open, and the  tappi ngcea sed. Th en  th ed oor cl ose d  an d the lo ck  t urned . Am o m e nt l ate r th ere c ame the jingl e o f
ke y s,and t hen s huff li ng fo otstep s acc om panied the rene wedtapping.
Tr es ler  w as st i ll lis ten ing . He ha d turne d  to wa r d th e door, and whilehi s at tentionwas fi x ed  o n  the com in g o f th e blind  ran c he r, he wa s yeta wa re  that D ia ne was  c lea rin g the tabl e with  what se emedt o him
unnecess a ry haste andn oi s e .H owev er,  his moment aryi nter estw as 
ce n treduponth e  d o orway and the passa ge  outsi de, a nd he paid li ttle
heedt o the girl 's m o ve m ents. The door  stoo d open, an d  as he l ooked 
out the  sound of s huffling  fe etdre w n e a re r; then a fig u r e pa ss ed theope ning.
Itwas  go nein  a moment . But in  t ha tmo men t hec aught si gh t o fa t all
m a n wrap ped i n th egr a y f olds of ad r essi ng -g owntha treach ed t o  hi s
feet.  That, an d t h e sh ar poutline  of a massive  h ead of clo se -cr oppedg r ay hair.  The face was lost, all exceptthe  prof ile.  He saw a  lo ng,
hi gh- b ridged  noseand a  s hor t ,  cris p gr ayi sh  beard. Th e tap pingof  the 
stickdied slowly away.A ndhe knew thatthe  bli n d  m anh ad pas se d  ou t on to the veran dah.

Nowhe tu rned again toth e girl,  and wo uld h a ve spok en, but s he raised 
a  war n i ngfinger and  shook h er head.T hen,m ov ing t owa rd the  d oor , she 
becko n edto hi m to f ol low.
     *      *       *       *      *

"F ather , t his is Mr . T r esl er."

Tre sler  found him sel f l ookin g d o wn up on a re mar k ableface .  He
ackno w le dge d Di ane's intro d u c tio n, fo rge t ful, f or t he moment, of the man's sightles s ey e s . H e g r ippe dthe outstretch edha n d  heartil y, 
. Diane
was_listening too._It was a soft_tap, tap,_like_some one_knocking
gently_upon a curtained_door. It was_irregular, intermittent, like the
tapping_of a telegraph-sounder_working_very slowly.

"What's that?" he asked.

The girl had risen, and a puzzled look was in_her_eyes. "The_noise?
Oh,_it's_father," she said, with a_shadowy smile, and in a_lowered
tone. "Something_must have disturbed him. It is unusual for_him_to be
awake so_early."

Now they heard a door open, and the tapping_ceased. Then the door
closed and the_lock turned. A_moment_later_there came the jingle_of
keys, and then shuffling footsteps accompanied_the renewed tapping.

Tresler was still listening._He had turned toward the door, and_while
his attention was fixed on the_coming of the blind rancher,_he was_yet
aware that Diane was clearing_the table with_what seemed_to him
unnecessary haste_and noise. However, his momentary interest_was
centred upon the_doorway and the passage outside, and_he_paid little
heed to_the_girl's_movements. The_door stood open,_and_as he_looked
out_the sound of shuffling feet drew_nearer;_then a figure passed the
opening.

It was gone_in a moment. But_in_that moment he caught_sight of a tall
man wrapped_in the gray folds of a_dressing-gown that_reached to_his
feet. That, and the sharp outline of a massive head of_close-cropped
gray hair. The face was lost,_all except the profile._He saw_a_long,
high-bridged nose and_a_short, crisp_grayish beard. The tapping of the
stick died_slowly away._And he knew that the blind_man had passed out
on_to_the verandah.

Now he turned again to_the girl, and would have spoken,_but she raised
a warning finger_and_shook_her head. Then, moving toward_the door, she
beckoned to him to_follow.

  _    *  __   *  __   *  ___  *  _    *

"Father, this_is Mr. Tresler."

Tresler found himself looking down upon a_remarkable face. He
acknowledged_Diane's introduction, forgetful, for the_moment,_of_the
man's sightless eyes. He gripped the outstretched hand heartily,