t of you to speak to me first, but
there doesn't seem to be anything particular for me to say till you find
out what Helen really thinks."

"Oh, I'll find that out, all right," said Moran, boastfully. "But this
Wade person better look out; I might have him run into the river some
night, if he pokes his nose in too far."

"I'd go easy on that, if I were you," said the Senator laughing
heartily, "a dead Wade might interfere with your plans worse than a live
one."

"Oh, of course," replied Moran, refusing to laugh. "I talk foolish with
my mouth sometimes, when I'm mad, but all the same, he'd better look
out."

"Now I wonder," said the Senator thoughtfully, after the other had left
him, "how long it will be before he does find out, and how serious it
will be. He's hit pretty hard, but I will have to keep him along some
way or other; I can't afford to lose him."

And he sat musing over his cigar till one by one his guests had gone,
but not until the great drawing room was well-nigh empty, did Helen
leave the conservatory.

For a few weeks thereafter Chicago seemed, to Gordon Wade's fancy, to be
the very center of the Universe. Gradually, however, the sturdy nature
of the man asserted itself, and realizing that for him there were many
more desirable places, he determined to look farther before choosing a
permanent home. He told Helen frankly of his purpose, and to his great
satisfaction she approved. There was no definite word of marriage
between them, though they both looked forward to it and both, at the
time of parting, deemed the understanding complete between them.

Helen would have had him turn to the East, for her heart was set on city
life in one of the world's great capitals, but he declared he must see
the West before deciding, and though she was dissatisfied, she was too
wise to seek the domination she intended, at that stage of the game.

He departed, therefore, to find in Wyoming later on, his ideal of a
home. His thought of Chicago thereafter, was that of the place where the
girl he thought he loved was waiting for him, to claim her, so soon as
his home was made suitable. There was much to do by way of preparation,
however, and almost imperceptibly his ardor cooled as he found himself
becoming prominent among the bold and independent citizens who were
rapidly putting Wyoming on the map.

CHAPTER III

JEALOUSY

Meantime, many things of great interest to Gordon Wade happened without
his know