my professional
services, and I have seen nothing thus far that leads me to be disloyal
to him."

It seemed to Wade's sensitive ear that his friend was speaking with a
large mental reservation, but wisely reflecting that the matter did not
concern him, he said no more, and when evening came, he went, willingly
enough, to make the acquaintance of the man who was then counted as one
of the greatest political powers in the country. Nor had he any
premonition that in the near future he and his host of the evening would
be engaged in a life and death struggle.

Of all that, however, there was no present indication whatever. On the
contrary, the great man welcomed him with all the suavity of manner for
which he was equally as famous as he was for the over-bearing rudeness
he often displayed when his will was disputed. This latter trait had won
for him the nickname of the Czar of American Politics; but he was an
adroit politician, not lacking in courtesy to guests in his own house.
Moreover, he was keen in his appraisal of men and quick to see that a
man of Wade's type would be more valuable to him as an ally than as a
foe.

Accordingly, he presented the young aristocrat to Mrs. Rexhill, who
openly showed her delight in meeting one of such distinguished
appearance, and with a great display of cordiality, she introduced him
to her daughter Helen.

"It is her coming-out party, Mr. Wade," she said, gushingly, "and you
must do all you can to make it a happy occasion."

One glance at the beautiful girl who stood before him was enough to
determine Wade that her evening should be as happy as he could make it.
The glaring ostentation of the house and its equipment had offended his
fastidious taste when he entered, and the sight of the really handsome,
but vulgarly overdressed and richly be-jeweled mother, had made him
shudder inwardly, but when he looked into Helen's eyes, he forgot all
his first impressions and imagined himself in Fairyland for the
remainder of the evening.

An older head than his might easily have been turned and a wiser man
bewildered by the tender glances of the charming girl who frankly met
his advances half way, being as much impressed by his appearance as he
with hers, and showing carelessness equal to his in regard to the
comment they excited among the other guests. One thing that Helen
Rexhill had never learned at school, or from the parents who had done
all that could be done to spoil her, was to co