osition thoroughly. You put it so well."

The sarcasm had grown more fierce by reason of the restraint the
rancher was putting on himself. And this restraint was further evident
in the movement of the hand which had now settled itself upon the body
of the lamp, and clutched it nervously.

Jake no longer kept check on himself. And his answer came in a roar.

"You shall take my price, or----"

"Keep calm, you blundering jackass!" the blind man rasped between his
clenched teeth.

"No, you don't, Mr. blasted Marbolt!" cried Jake, springing to his
feet and moving out to the middle of the room threateningly. "No, you
don't!" he cried again; "I've had enough of that. God's curse on you
for a low swine! I'll talk no more; it's 'yes' or 'no.' Remember"--he
bent over toward the sitting man and pointed in his face with fierce
delight--"I am your master now, an' ef you don't do as I say, by
G----! but I'll make you whine for mercy."

And Marbolt's answer came with a crash of brass and smashing of glass,
a leap of flame, then darkness, as he hurled the lamp to the floor and
extinguished it. It came in silence, but a silence ruffled by the
sound of sudden movement. It came, as was only to be expected from a
man like him, without warning, like the silent attack of a puma, and
with as deadly intent.

Tresler could see nothing, but he knew that death was hovering over
that room for some one. Suddenly he heard the table dragged or pushed
across the floor, and Jake's voice, harsh with the effort of struggle,
reached him.

"You would, would you? Right; it's you or me!"

At that moment the onlooker was about to rush forward, for what
purpose he had but the vaguest idea. But even as he took the first
step he felt himself seized forcibly by the arm from behind. And
Diane's voice whispered in his ear.

"Not you, Jack!" she said eagerly. "Leave it to me; I--I can save
him--Jake."

"Jake?"

"Yes."

She was gone, and in an instant returned with the lighted kitchen
lamp, which she held aloft as she rushed into the room.

Tresler was taken utterly by surprise. The girl's movements were so
sudden, so unexpected, and her words so strange.

There she stood in the middle of the room with the light held above
her head like some statue. And all the signs of a deadly struggle were
about her. Jake was sheltered behind the window table, and stood
blinking in the sudden light, staring at her in blank astonishment.
But the chief figure of