"If I thought that Wade were the man to make her happy," Rexhill puffed heavily, in restraint of his excitement.
"Happy? Him?" Moran's eyes gleamed.
"Or if there was a shred of truth—but to make up such a story out of whole cloth...."
"What's the matter with you, Senator? Why, I thought you were a master of men, a general on the field of battle!" The agent leaned forward again until his hot, whiskey-laden breath fanned the other man's face.
"I'm a father, Race, before I'm anything else in God's world."
"But it's true, Senator. True as I'm speaking. Ask any one in Crawling Water. Everybody knows that Wade and this Purnell girl are mad in love with each other."
"Is that true, Race?"
Rexhill looked searchingly into the inflamed slits which marked the location of the agent's eyes.
"As God is my witness. It's the truth now, whatever he may have thought of Helen before. He's been making a fool of her, Senator. I've tried to make her see it, but she won't. You'll not only be protecting yourself, but you'll do her a service." He paused as Rexhill consulted his watch.
"Helen will be over here in a few minutes. I promised to take a walk with her this morning."