I'd like to see you come to Chicago, solely because I like you
personally. If you decide to settle here I'm sure I can be of service
to you and you to me. Don't think anything more about it; I sha'n't
ever say anything one way or another. You have your own battle to
fight, and I wish you luck. You'll get all the aid from me I can
honestly give you. Just forget that you told me, and when you get your
matrimonial affairs straightened out bring your wife out to see us."

With these things completed Cowperwood took the train back to
Philadelphia.

"Aileen," he said, when these two met again--she had come to the train
to meet him--"I think the West is the answer for us. I went up to
Fargo and looked around up there, but I don't believe we want to go
that far. There's nothing but prairie-grass and Indians out in that
country. How'd you like to live in a board shanty, Aileen," he asked,
banteringly, "with nothing but fried rattlesnakes and prairie-dogs for
breakfast? Do you think you could stand that?"

"Yes," she replied, gaily, hugging his arm, for they had entered a
closed carriage; "I could stand it if you could. I'd go anywhere with
you, Frank. I'd get me a nice Indian dress with leather and beads all
over it and a feather hat like they wear, and--"

"There you go! Certainly! Pretty clothes first of all in a miner's
shack. That's the way."

"You wouldn't love me long if I didn't put pretty clothes first," she
replied, spiritedly. "Oh, I'm so glad to get you back!"

"The trouble is," he went on, "that that country up there isn't as
promising as Chicago. I think we're destined to live in Chicago. I
made an investment in Fargo, and we'll have to go up there from time to
time, but we'll eventually locate in Chicago. I don't want to go out
there alone again. It isn't pleasant for me." He squeezed her hand.
"If we can't arrange this thing at once I'll just have to introduce you
as my wife for the present."

"You haven't heard anything more from Mr. Steger?" she put in. She was
thinking of Steger's efforts to get Mrs. Cowperwood to grant him a
divorce.

"Not a word."

"Isn't it too bad?" she sighed.

"Well, don't grieve. Things might be worse."

He was thinking of his days in the penitentiary, and so was she. After
commenting on the character of Chicago he decided with her that so soon
as conditions permitted they would remove themselves to the Western
city.

It would be pointless to do more than r