on,
and his lips parted in a grin, such as a wolf might assume when about
to pounce upon an innocent lamb. It was this grin which dispelled
Glen's fear and aroused in her breast an intense anger. As she looked
upon the dirty and unkempt creature before her, and thought of the mean
advantage he was taking of a woman, the paleness left her face and her
cheeks crimsoned with indignation. Why should she become a victim to
such a vile thing?

Glen was perfectly composed now, and looked Curly steadily in the eyes.
She had no intention of parleying with the villain, and the sooner he
realised her mettle the better it would be.

"What do you want?" she demanded. "My father is not here, if you wish
to see him."

"It's you I want to see," Curly replied with a grin.

"What do you want to see me for?" Glen's words were so cold, firm and
business-like that Curly was somewhat taken aback.

"Oh, I just thought I would drop around an' see ye, that's all," he
prevaricated.

"Well, you might have saved yourself the trouble, for I don't want to
see you."

"Ye don't, eh?" Curly snarled, for the girl's words stung him. "I
don't care whether ye do or not. It's not what you want, but what I
want."

"What do you mean by those words?"

"I guess ye ought to know. Didn't I tell ye at the dance that I love
ye?"

"Love me!" and Glen's eyes flashed. "Do you know the meaning of the
word love? I suppose you told the same to many girls you have ruined."

"I never loved anyone as I love you," the villain whined.

"I suppose I should be flattered, but I am not. I don't want what you
call your love, or anything to do with you."

"D'ye mean that yer goin' to throw me over?"

"Throw you over! I don't understand you."

"Yes, throw me over fer that slick guy you're so chummy with. I
suppose he's been tellin' ye what a bad man I am, an' so turned ye
against me."

"What right have you to say that? You were never anything to me except
just what you are, a creature capable of almost any deed of villainy.
I only met you two or three times in my life, and why should you
presume to think that you had won my affection?"

"Well, if ye think I'm bad to the core, I will soon show you that I am.
It's no use, I see, to beat about the bush any longer. If I can't get
you one way I will another, an' I'll have you ahead of that d---- guy
who has won your heart. You're here alone with me, remember, an'
that's all I want."

Curly had th