ained Jack's
strange request, and his distress.

"And Echo?" Dick questioned, glancing toward the house.

"Echo." The name aroused Allen. He saw at once that he must act
definitely and quickly. Echo must not see Dick now. It was too late.
The secret of his return on the wedding-day must be known only to the
three men.

"Look here, Dick," he commanded. "You mustn't let her see you--she
mustn't know you are alive."

Dick was growing confused over the mystery which was being thrown about
Echo Allen. First Jack had told him he must wait to see her, and now
her father tells him he must never see her again, or let her know that
he is alive. His strength was being overtaxed by all this evasion and
delay.

"Dick," said Allen, with deep sympathy, laying his hand upon the man's
shoulder. "She's my daughter an' I want her life to be happy. Can't
you see? Do you understand? She thinks you're dead."

"What are you saying?" cried Dick, trying to fathom the riddle.

"You've come back too late, Dick," sadly explained Allen.

"Too late," echoed Dick. "There's something back of all this. I'll see
her now."

He started to enter the door, but Allen restrained him. "You can't go
in," he shouted to the excited man, and pushed him down the steps. It
was an easy task for him for Dick was too weak to offer much
resistance. "No, you won't," he gently told him. His heart bled for
the poor fellow, whom he loved almost as a son, but Echo's happiness
was at stake, and explanations could come later. More to emphasize his
earnestness than to indicate intention to shoot, he laid his hand on
the butt of his revolver, saying: "Not if I have to kill you."

Dick began to realize that whatever was wrong was of the greatest
consequence. It was a shock to him to have his oldest, his best friend
in the West treat him in this fashion.

"Jim!" he cried in his anguish.

"You've got to go back where you came from, Dick," sternly answered the
ranchman. "If ever you loved my daughter, now's your chance to prove
it--she must never know you're livin--"

"But--"

"It's a whole lot I'm askin' of you, Dick," continued Allen. "But if
you love her, as I think you do, it may be a drop of comfort in your
heart to know that by doin' this great thing for her, you'll be makin'
her life better and happier."

"I do love her," cried Dick passionately; "but there must be some
reason--tell me."

Allen held up his hand to warn Dick to be sile