rms around her, he held
her while she wept on his shoulder. "But isn't it better to find out
these things now, in time, before they have had a chance to really wreck
your happiness?"

"Yes, of course." She dried her eyes and managed to smile a little.
"I--I'll write to Maxwell to-day and tell him that I'll marry him. That
will please mother."

It pleased the Senator, too, for it meant that no matter what happened
to him, the women of his family would be provided for. He knew that
young Frayne was too much in love to be turned from his purpose by any
misfortune that might occur to Helen's father.

CHAPTER XIV

A DASTARD'S BLOW

At about the time when Rexhill was freeing Moran from his bonds, Wade
and Santry, with rifles slung across their backs were tramping the banks
of Piah Creek. In the rocky canyon, which they finally reached, the
placid little stream narrowed into a roaring torrent, which rushed
between the steep banks and the huge, water-worn bowlders, with fury
uncontrolled.

Neither of the cattlemen greatly feared the coming of a second posse, at
least immediately, but for the sake of prudence, they went armed and
kept a careful watch. Wade mounted guard while Santry, who in his
younger days had prospected in California, squatted over a sandy,
rock-rimmed pool and deftly "washed out" a pan of gravel. One glance at
the fine, yellow residue in the bottom of the pan decided him. With a
triumphant yell that echoed and reechoed through the gorge, he sprang to
his feet.

"Whoop-e-e-e! I've struck it!" he shouted excitedly, as Wade ran up to
him. "Look there!" The old man held out a small handful of the yellow
dust.

Wade drew a long breath.

"Gold! It's true, then!"

"You betcher, and it's the richest pay-dirt I ever met up with. No
wonder Moran has been willin' to do murder to get a-holt of this land.
You're a rich man, boy; a millionaire, I reckon."

"You mean that _we_ are rich, Bill." The younger man spoke slowly and
emphatically. "Whatever comes out of here"--he waved his hand toward the
creek--"is one-half yours. I decided on that long ago. Never mind asking
me why." He clapped Santry on the back. "It's because we're partners in
fact, if not in name. Because you've stuck with me through all the lean
years. That's reason enough."

The old plainsman carefully emptied the dust back into the pan before he
said anything.

"Have you gone clean crazy?" he finally demanded. "Givin' away a fortu