his way."

"H'm," Weston grunted. "A trumped-up yarn, no doubt. Don't you think
it looks rather suspicious?"

"It might if it were someone else. But he is different, and I believe
he told me the truth."

"Well, we shall soon find out, Glen. If he begins any of his lies or
fancy tales to me, he will learn his mistake. I am not going to have
any young man wandering about this region, let me tell you that. It
has been tried too often already, so we might as well make a special
example of him in order to warn others. It's the 'Ordeal' for him, all
right."

At these words Glen sprang to her feet and confronted her father. Her
eyes were blazing with intense emotion, and Jim Weston stared at her in
amazement. A feeling of pride welled up within him at her appearance
and courage.

"You shall not lay hands on him," Glen passionately declared. "He is
an innocent man, and it would be unjust to hurt him."

"Glen, Glen, what is the meaning of this?" her father demanded. "You
seem to be greatly interested in this fellow. I am surprised at you."

"I am interested, daddy. Nay, I am more than interested, for I love
him with my whole heart, so there. Don't you dare to touch him."

The strain of this interview was telling upon Glen. As soon as this
confession had left her lips, she was wild with regret. Why had she
done this? she asked herself, as she stood with big staring eyes
watching her father. What would he say? What would he not do to her?
Her body trembled, a weakness swept upon her, and sinking down into her
chair, she buried her face in her hands and sobbed as if her heart
would break.

If Jim Weston was astonished before, he was dumbfounded now at what his
daughter had told him. His heart went out in a great rush of pity to
his only child and he longed to take her in his arms and comfort her.
But he felt that he must be firm and not give way to any feeling of
emotion at a time like this. Instead, he laid his hand somewhat
heavily upon her shoulder.

"Does this fellow, Reynolds, know of your love?" he asked.

"No, no; he has not the least idea of it," was the low reply.

"And he has not avowed his love to you? Are you sure?"

"I am certain. He has never given the least sign that he cares for me
more than if I were an ordinary acquaintance. But he is a gentleman
both in word and action."

For a few minutes Jim Weston stood lost in thought. It seemed to Glen
as if he would never speak. T