I had to slip in sidewise.  It was a tight squeeze, but I entered without the slightest sound.  If my position were to be betrayed it would not be from noise.  As I progressed the passage grew a very little wider in that direction, and this fact gave rise to the thought that in case of a necessary and hurried exit I would do best by working toward the patio.  It seemed a good deal of time was consumed in reaching my vantage-point.  When I did get there the crack was a foot over my head.  If I had only been tall like Steele!  There was nothing to do but find toe-holes in the crumbling walls, and by bracing knees on one side, back against the other, hold myself up to the crack.

Once with my eye there I did not care what risk I ran.  Sampson appeared disturbed; he sat stroking his mustache; his brow was clouded.  Wright’s face seemed darker, more sullen, yet lighted by some indomitable resolve.

“We’ll settle both deals to-night,” Wright was saying.  “That’s what I came for.  That’s why I’ve asked Snecker and Blome to be here.”

“But suppose I don’t choose to talk here?” protested Sampson impatiently.  “I never before made my house a place to—­”

“We’ve waited long enough.  This place’s as good as any.  You’ve lost your nerve since that Ranger hit the town.  First, now, will you give Diane to me?”

“George, you talk like a spoiled boy.  Give Diane to you!  Why, she’s a woman and I’m finding out that she’s got a mind of her own.  I told you I was willing for her to marry you.  I tried to persuade her.  But Diane hasn’t any use for you now.  She liked you at first; but now she doesn’t.  So what can I do?”

“You can make her marry me,” replied Wright.

“Make that girl do what she doesn’t want to?  It couldn’t be done, even if I tried.  And I don’t believe I’ll try.  I haven’t the highest opinion of you as a prospective son-in-law, George.  But if Diane loved you I would consent.  We’d all go away together before this damned miserable business is out.  Then she’d never know.  And maybe you might be more like you used to be before the West ruined you.  But as matters stand you fight your own game with her; and I’ll tell you now, you’ll lose.”

“What’d you want to let her come out here for?” demanded Wright hotly.  “It was a dead mistake.  I’ve lost my head over her.  I’ll have her or die.  Don’t you think if she was my wife I’d soon pull myself together?  Since she came we’ve none of us been right.  And the gang has put up a holler.  No, Sampson, we’ve got to settle things to-night.”

“Well, we can settle what Diane’s concerned in right now,” replied Sampson, rising.  “Come on; we’ll go ask her.  See where you stand.”

They went out, leaving the door open.  I dropped down to rest myself and to wait.  I would have liked to hear Miss Sampson’s answer to him.  But I could guess what it would be.  Wright appeared to be all I had thought of him, and I believed I was going to find out presently that he was worse.  Just then I wanted Steele as never before.  Still, he was too big to worm his way into this place.