hear you breathing. Is he
dead?"

Diane sprang up and bent over her patient. "No," she said, half
fearing that her father's inquiry was prophetic. "He is unconscious
from loss of blood. Arizona----"

"Tchah! Arizona!--I want to talk to you. Here, give me your hand and
lead me to the bedside. I will sit here. This place is unfamiliar."

Diane did as she was bid. She was pale. A strained look was in her
soft brown eyes, but there was determination in the set of her lips.

"What is the matter with you, girl?" her father asked. The softness of
his speech in no way disguised the iciness of his manner. "You're
shaking."

"There's nothing the matter with me," she replied pointedly.

"Ah, thinking of him." His hand reached out until it rested on one of
Tresler's legs. His remark seemed to require no answer, and a silence
fell while Diane watched the eyes so steadily directed upon the sick
man. Presently he went on. "These men have done well. They have saved
the cattle. Arizona mentioned the sheriff. I don't know much about it
yet, but it seems to me this boy must have contrived their assistance.
Smart work, if he did so."

"Yes, father, and brave," added the girl in a low tone.

His words had raised hope within her. But with his next he dashed it.

"Brave? It was his duty," he snapped, resentful immediately. The red
eyes were turned upon his daughter, and she fancied she saw something
utterly cruel in their painful depths. "You are uncommonly
interested," he went on slowly. "I was warned before that he and you
were too thick. I told you of it--cautioned you. Isn't that
sufficient, or have I to----" He left his threat unfinished.

A color flushed slowly into Diane's cheeks and her eyes sparkled.

"No, it isn't sufficient, father. You have no right to stop me
speaking to Mr. Tresler. I have bowed to your decision with regard to
the other men on the ranch. There, perhaps, you had a right--a
parent's right. But it is different with Mr. Tresler. He is a
gentleman. As for character, you yourself admit it is unimpeachable.
Then what right have you to refuse to allow me even speech with him?
It is absurd, tyrannical; and I refuse to obey you."

The frowning brows drew sharply down over the man's eyes. And Diane
understood the sudden rising of storm behind the mask-like face. She
waited with a desperate calmness. It was the moral bravery prompted by
her new-born love.

But the storm held off, controlled by that indomita