"Honest!" exclaimed Ordway, and turned on his heel.
"Well, I'd like to know what you call it, for if it isn't honesty, it certainly isn't pleasure. My wife's dead, I swear it's a fact, and I swear again that I don't mean the girl any harm. I was never so much gone on a woman in my life, though a number of 'em have been pretty soft on me. So you keep off and manage your election—or whatever it is—while I go about my business. Great Scott! after all it ain't as if a woman were a bank note, is it?"
"The first question was mine. Will you leave to-day or will you not?"
"And if I will not what are you going to do about it?"
"As soon as I hear your decision, I shall let you know."
"Well, say I won't. What is your next move then?"
"In that case I shall go straight to the girl's father after I leave this room."
"By Jove you will! And what will you do when you get there?"
"I shall tell him that to the best of my belief you have a wife—possibly several—now living."
"Then you'll lie," said Wherry, dropping for the first time his persuasive tone.