Jake drawled his speech and laughed lazily as he ended it. He was just boasting, as usual, but his hawklike eyes were on Nash. And it was certain that Nash turned pale. Lenore had no reply to make. Her father appeared to lose patience with Jake, but after a moment's hesitation decided not to voice it. Nash was not a good nor a careful driver under any circumstances, and this morning it was evident he did not have his mind on his business. There were bumps in the orchard road where the irrigation ditches crossed. "Say, you ought to be drivin' a hay-wagon," called Anderson, sarcastically. At Vale he ordered the car stopped at the post-office, and, telling Lenore he might be detained a few moments, he went in. Nash followed, and presently came back with a package of letters. Upon taking his seat in the car he assorted the letters, one of which, a large, thick envelope, manifestly gave him excited gratification. He pocketed them and turned to Lenore. "Ah! I see you get letters--from a woman," she said, pretending a poison sweetness of jealousy. "Certainly. I'm not married yet," he replied. "Lenore, last night--" "You will never be married--to me--while you write to other women. Let me see that letter!... Let me read it--all of them!" "No, Lenore--not here. And don't speak so loud. Your father will be coming any minute.... Lenore, he suspects me. And that cowboy knows things. I can't go back to the ranch." "Oh, you must come!" "No. If you love me you've got to run off with me to-day." "But why the hurry?" she appealed. "It's getting hot for me." "What do you mean by that? Why don't you explain to me? As long as you are so strange, so mysterious, how can I trust you? You ask me to run off with you, yet you don't put confidence in me." Nash grew pale and earnest, and his hands shook. "But if I do confide in you, then will you come with me?" he queried, breathlessly. "I'll not promise. Maybe what you have to tell will prove--you--you don't care for me." "It 'll prove I do," he replied, passionately. "Then tell me." Lenore realized she could no longer play the part she had assumed. But Nash was so stirred by his own emotions, so carried along in a current, that he did not see the difference in her. "Listen. I tell you it's getting hot for me," he whispered. "I've been put here--close to Anderson--to find out things and to carry out orders. Lately I've neglected my job because I fell in love with you. He's your father. If I go on with plans--and harm comes to him--I'll never get you. Is that clear?" "It certainly is," replied Lenore, and she felt a tightness at her throat.