It puts me out of patience." "Belllounds, you're not her real father." The rancher gave a start, and he stared as he had stared before, fixedly and perplexedly at Wade.
"No, I'm not." "If she _were_ your real daughter--your own flesh an' blood--an' Jack Belllounds was _my_ son, would you let her marry him ?" "Wal, Wade, I reckon I wouldn't." "Then how can you expect my consent to her marriage with your son ?" "WHAT!" Belllounds lunged over to Wade, leaned down, shaken by overwhelming amaze.
"Collie is my daughter!" A loud expulsion of breath escaped Belllounds.

Lower he leaned, and looked with piercing gaze into the face and eyes that in this moment bore strange resemblance to Columbine.
"So help me Gawd!...

That's the secret ?...

Hell-Bent Wade! An' you've been on my trail!" He staggered to his big chair and fell into it.

No trace of doubt showed in his face.