Swiftly crossing the room, she reached the open door and stepped outside just when Curly was but a few yards away.  He stopped, surprised at the girl’s unexpected appearance.  He noted her agitation, and his lips parted in a grin, such as a wolf might assume when about to pounce upon an innocent lamb.  It was this grin which dispelled Glen’s fear and aroused in her breast an intense anger.  As she looked upon the dirty and unkempt creature before her, and thought of the mean advantage he was taking of a woman, the paleness left her face and her cheeks crimsoned with indignation.  Why should she become a victim to such a vile thing?

Glen was perfectly composed now, and looked Curly steadily in the eyes.  She had no intention of parleying with the villain, and the sooner he realised her mettle the better it would be.

“What do you want?” she demanded.  “My father is not here, if you wish to see him.”

“It’s you I want to see,” Curly replied with a grin.

“What do you want to see me for?” Glen’s words were so cold, firm and business-like that Curly was somewhat taken aback.

“Oh, I just thought I would drop around an’ see ye, that’s all,” he prevaricated.

“Well, you might have saved yourself the trouble, for I don’t want to see you.”

“Ye don’t, eh?” Curly snarled, for the girl’s words stung him.  “I don’t care whether ye do or not.  It’s not what you want, but what I want.”

“What do you mean by those words?”

“I guess ye ought to know.  Didn’t I tell ye at the dance that I love ye?”

“Love me!” and Glen’s eyes flashed.  “Do you know the meaning of the word love?  I suppose you told the same to many girls you have ruined.”

“I never loved anyone as I love you,” the villain whined.

“I suppose I should be flattered, but I am not.  I don’t want what you call your love, or anything to do with you.”

“D’ye mean that yer goin’ to throw me over?”

“Throw you over!  I don’t understand you.”

“Yes, throw me over fer that slick guy you’re so chummy with.  I suppose he’s been tellin’ ye what a bad man I am, an’ so turned ye against me.”

“What right have you to say that?  You were never anything to me except just what you are, a creature capable of almost any deed of villainy.  I only met you two or three times in my life, and why should you presume to think that you had won my affection?”

“Well, if ye think I’m bad to the core, I will soon show you that I am.  It’s no use, I see, to beat about the bush any longer.  If I can’t get you one way I will another, an’ I’ll have you ahead of that d——­ guy who has won your heart.  You’re here alone with me, remember, an’ that’s all I want.”

Curly had thrown aside all pretense now, and his face bore an ugly expression as he stepped quickly forward.  But it was only a step or two he took, for he stopped short with a surprised jerk when he beheld the menacing point of a revolver directed straight at his head.  The hand that held the weapon was firm, and the blaze in Glen’s eyes was sufficient warning.  This was more than he had expected, and he knew not what to do.