Before she had time to think, before she realized that the agent had no right to ask the question, she gasped falteringly: "No! No."
"I thought so. And he's been doing the devoted for a long time."
She was so conscious of the truth of this that she had no time to reflect that the agent was going quite beyond the legitimate bounds of his position.
"He isn't on the level. You can't trust a half-breed."
"Mr. Ladd, you mustn't say that to me.
"I'll show you the difference. I'll ask you to be my wife."
This was so amazing, so direct, that it took her breath away. She could only sink down bewildered on an upturned bucket. All her preconceived ideas of the man seemed to need readjusting. How did it happen?
"Now, take your time and give me an even chance." He rose but did not disturb her by advancing toward her. "Wah-na-gi, I'm playing for big stakes. I'll tell you something in confidence. These asphalt mines are valuable—very valuable, but back of them are coal mines—rich? There's no end to 'em. At the lowest price ever paid for coal they would pay the national debt and God knows how much besides. The cowboys don't know that. There are only three people know it as yet—a big capitalist, his engineer, and myself. These cowboys are children in a game like this."
"How does this interest me?"
"Why, if we can get our bill through Congress before the rest of the world knows what we're up to, you and I won't have to live at Standing Bear Agency. We'll have the world in a sling. We'll make a plaything of it. Every luxury, every pleasure, honors, if we want 'em! Society? Why, if you want society, we'll buy it for you. Culture, learning, genius; why, they'll eat out of our hand. We'll show 'em. Who'll care then who you are or what you are? Who'll know or care whether you are an Indian or a Fejee? You'll be my wife—the wife of one of the three or four richest men in the world. I'll put the world on its knees to you, my girl."