nawing. When she saw the look in his
eyes, she stared at him wonderingly.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice puzzled.

"What is what?" Gratton laughed, but the look was still there. His eyes
did not laugh.

"What makes you look like that? What are you thinking?"

Now it was he who was vaguely puzzled. Then he shrugged.

"I was just thinking how superb you are," he replied, not entirely
untruthfully. For his ulterior thought had been reared upon the vital
fact of her triumphant beauty.

The compliment was too much like hundreds she had received in her life
to alarm her. Rather, it pleased; what word of praise had she heard
during these latter days?

His voice sounded queerly, as though his breath came with difficulty.
Maybe it did, since he was no outdoors man, and to him the climb up the
rocks and the brief journey along the mountain flank was a painful
labour. Certain it was that the faint flush was still in the sallow
cheeks. Suddenly he lifted his hands, putting them out toward her. She
saw again the strange look in his eyes.

"Gloria!" he said hoarsely, "you are wonderful! And you have come to
me!"

Gloria met his rather too ardent admiration with that cool little laugh
which had been her weapon in other days. She was not afraid of Gratton.
To-day she had led and he had followed. She had commanded and he had
obeyed. Here was a pleasant change from King's masterfulness, and she
fully intended to hold Gratton well in hand.

"I came to you," she said frankly, "because I was a woman in distress
and had no alternative. That there has ever been any unpleasantness
between us does not alter that fact. You understand me, don't you?"

He hardly heard her. To his mind the situation was clearness itself.
Gloria had come alone into the forest with Mark King. She had been with
him all these days and nights. But she and King had quarrelled; tired of
each other already, perhaps. Gratton did not care what the reason was;
he was gloatingly satisfied with the outcome. He had always coveted her;
it took much to stir his pale blood, and only the superb beauty of
Gloria Gaynor had ever fully done so. King had stolen her away, but she
had left him and had come straight to Gratton!

He came a step closer and the firelight showed how the muscles of his
throat were working. Gloria's eyes widened. But not yet did she fully
understand and not yet did she fear.

"Mr. Gratton," she began.

"Gloria!" he cried out. "Gloria!"