"Mother said to me a little while ago, that he was probably going with other girls and forgetting me, and it made me angry." "Well, I reckon your mother is about right. Gordon is a likely looking chap, you know. I've got nothing against him, except that he isn't good enough for you; no man is. You don't really care so much for him, do you?" "Oh, don't I?" She viewed her father through half closed lids, in a quizzical way. "I care so very much for him that if I really thought there was another girl, I would go to Crawling Water to-morrow. You'd have to drop everything and take me." Her father gently pinched her cheek. "I would, eh? Well, maybe I'll have to go out there anyway. But do you realize what Crawling Water is like,--a rough, frontier town?" "I wouldn't mind that for a while." "No, I suppose not. You've got too much of your old dad in you to balk at a few difficulties. There's somebody else out there who'd be mighty glad to see your pretty face. Race Moran." "Mr. Moran!" The sudden change in the girl's tone from tenderness to scorn caused the Senator a twinge of uneasiness. His plans were so closely linked with Moran's for the present, that the man might prove dangerous if his love for Helen were too openly scorned. That she could scarcely tolerate him, despite his ability and force of character, her father knew from the past; but even in the moment of his need he did not seek to influence her in Moran's favor. His love for her was genuine and very deep. "He's been out there for some time, as my agent." "Yes, I know that. He--he has written to me, although I've never answered his letters. I've been curious to hear from him again, because he promised to send me some kodaks of Crawling Water." "Maybe he hasn't done so because you've ignored his letters." Helen's lip curled in disdain. "He'd never let a little thing like that stop him. But perhaps I will answer the next one, if only to find out what is going on out there. It's all so very mysterious. Do you know, father,"--She playfully shook her finger at him--"this is the first time in a long while that you haven't taken me into your confidence, and I think it a very ominous sign. I'm sure you'll be punished for it." The Senator winced at the word punished, and Helen laughed at what she thought was the effect of her raillery. "Why don't you tell me? You see, I'm so worried about Gordon. Honestly, father, I'm serious about that. I--I love him, and I don't want him hurt." "Hurt? Why, who is thinking of hurting him?" "Oh, I don't know. Moran hates him, and has referred to him once or twice in a way that I do not understand. Do tell me all about it." "Oh, well, my dear, there's really nothing to tell. It's all concerned with some homestead lands out there that I want to get hold of for an investment. Wade will not be hurt, no; that is, he won't be if he beats me out. If I win, he'll lose." "He will?"