Nash bit his lip, and for the first time looked at Lenore without thinking of himself.  And surprise dawned in his eyes.

“Yes, Glidden.  You saw him speak to me up in the Bend, the first time your father went to see Dorn’s wheat.  Glidden’s playing the I.W.W. against itself.  He means to drop out of this deal with big money....Now I’ll save your father if you’ll stick to me.”

Lenore could no longer restrain herself.  This man was not even big in his wickedness.  Lenore divined that his later words held no truth.

“Mr. Ruenke, you are a detestable coward,” she said, with quivering scorn.  “I let you imagine—­Oh!  I can’t speak it!...  You—­you—­”

“God!  You fooled me!” he ejaculated, his jaw falling in utter amaze.

“You were contemptibly easy.  You’d better jump out of this car and run.  My father will shoot you.”

“You deceitful—­cat!” he cried, haltingly, as anger overcame his astonishment.  “I’ll—­”

Anderson’s big bulk loomed up behind Nash.  Lenore gasped as she saw her father, for his eyes were upon her and he had recognized events.

“Say, Mister Ruenke, the postmaster says you get letters here under different names,” said Anderson, bluntly.

“Yes—­I—­I—­get them—­for a friend,” stammered the driver, as his face turned white.

“You lyin’ German pup!...  I’ll look over them letters!” Anderson’s big hand shot out to clutch Nash, holding him powerless, and with the other hand he searched Nash’s inside coat pockets, to tear forth a packet of letters.  Then Anderson released him and stepped back.  “Get out of that car!” he thundered.

Nash made a slow movement, as if to comply, then suddenly he threw on the power.  The car jerked forward.

Anderson leaped to get one hand on the car door, the other on Nash.  He almost pulled the driver out of his seat.  But Nash held on desperately, and the car, gaining momentum, dragged Anderson.  He could not get his feet up on the running-board, and suddenly he fell.

Lenore screamed and tore frantically at the handle of the door.  Nash struck her, jerked her back into the seat.  She struggled until the car shot full speed ahead.  Then it meant death for her to leap out.

“Sit still, or you’ll kill yourself.” shouted Nash, hoarsely.

Lenore fell back, almost fainting, with the swift realization of what had happened.

CHAPTER IX

Kurt Dorn had indeed no hope of ever seeing Lenore Anderson again, and he suffered a pang that seemed to leave his heart numb, though Anderson’s timely visit might turn out as providential as the saving rain-storm.  The wheat waved and rustled as if with renewed and bursting life.  The exquisite rainbow still shone, a beautiful promise, in the sky.  But Dorn could not be happy in that moment.

This day Lenore Anderson had seemed a bewildering fulfilment of the sweetness he had imagined was latent in her.  She had meant what was beyond him to understand.  She had gently put a hand to his lips, to check the bitter words, and he had dared to kiss her soft fingers.  The thrill, the sweetness, the incomprehensible and perhaps imagined response of her pulse would never leave him.  He watched the big car until it was out of sight.