Not once did he move his eyes from her. She did not turn toward him, but as the "judge" began talking she lifted her head and King saw her throat, her cheek. How pale she was---- Though her head was up, her slim body drooped. Like a little wildwood flower wilting. So she remained for what seemed a very long time. Then suddenly he saw her body stiffen; her hands flew to her breast. The "judge," hurrying along, had asked: "And do you take this man to be your wedded husband?" King did not want to hear the answer; he turned to go. But hear now he must, for though until now responses had been low-voiced, hardly above a murmur, he heard Gloria crying: "_No! No and no and no_!" King stopped like a man paralysed. Had he gone mad? Then his pulses leaped and hammered. Gloria had cried "_No_!" A tremor shook him; he could no longer see her, but he stood where he was, his senses keyed to hear a falling pin within. "He is a beast and I hate him!" cried Gloria wildly. "He tried to trick me and trap me. He tried to make me marry him But I won't! I won't! I'd rather die." Her voice died chokingly away, and for five seconds it was deathly still. Still King did not move. He heard Gratton's exclamation, Gratton's hurried step. The man was excited, was expostulating. Other voices; the other men had drawn aside, amazed, leaving Gratton a clear field with his unwilling bride. "Have you gone mad, Gloria?" King could hear the words now. "Think what you are saying----" "I have thought. I hate you. Go away. Let me go." Gratton's pale eyes must be ablaze with wrath now; his tone told that. "There's no way out for you. You've got to marry me. I----" "Take your hand off----" Her voice broke into a scream. "You're hurting me----" And now Mark King moved at last. Before the last word had done vibrating through the still room he was through the window, taking the shortest way. Gratton's hand was on Gloria's shoulder; King threw it off, hurling the man backward across the room. Gloria turned to him---- "Mark!" she cried. "Oh, Mark King!" He put his arms about her, thinking that she was going to fall. For an instant he held her tight; he felt her heart beating as though it would burst through her bosom. "You won't let him----?" He moved with her to a chair, placed her in it, and turned toward Gratton, a look like a naked knife in his eyes. "By jings!" muttered old Jim under his breath. "By jings!" _Chapter XIV_