whole
danger in that regard lay in her devotion to Wade, which was responsible
for her interest in him. If she could be brought to feel that Wade was
unworthy, that he had indeed wronged her, her own pride could be trusted
to do the rest.

"If I thought that Wade were the man to make her happy," Rexhill puffed
heavily, in restraint of his excitement.

"Happy? Him?" Moran's eyes gleamed.

"Or if there was a shred of truth--but to make up such a story out of
whole cloth...."

"What's the matter with you, Senator? Why, I thought you were a master
of men, a general on the field of battle!" The agent leaned forward
again until his hot, whiskey-laden breath fanned the other man's face.

"I'm a father, Race, before I'm anything else in God's world."

"But it's true, Senator. True as I'm speaking. Ask any one in Crawling
Water. Everybody knows that Wade and this Purnell girl are mad in love
with each other."

"Is that true, Race?"

Rexhill looked searchingly into the inflamed slits which marked the
location of the agent's eyes.

"As God is my witness. It's the truth now, whatever he may have thought
of Helen before. He's been making a fool of her, Senator. I've tried to
make her see it, but she won't. You'll not only be protecting yourself,
but you'll do her a service." He paused as Rexhill consulted his watch.

"Helen will be over here in a few minutes. I promised to take a walk
with her this morning."

"Are you game?"

"I'll do it, Race." Rexhill spoke solemnly. "We might as well fry for
one thing as another." Grimacing, he shook the hand which the other
offered him. "When will you start?"

"Now," Moran answered promptly. "I'll take three or four men with me,
and we'll hang around Wade's ranch until we get him. He'll probably be
nosing around the range trying to locate the gold, and we shouldn't have
much trouble. When we've got him safe...." His teeth ground audibly upon
each other as he paused abruptly, and the sound seemed to cause the
Senator uneasiness.

"By the way, since I've turned near-assassin, you might as well tell me
who shot Jensen." Rexhill spoke with a curious effort. "If Wade gets
you, instead of you getting Wade, it may be necessary for me to know all
the facts."

Moran answered from the window, whither he had stepped to get his hat,
which lay on the broad sill.

"It was Tug Bailey, Senator. Here comes Helen now. You needn't tell her
that I was tied up all night." He laid Wade's quirt