hers than ours do?"

"Father! I am surprised--!"

"But--she is not a Catholic!" urged the man, with a gesture of
impatience. "And she will never be one. The combined weight of all the
centuries of church authority could not make her one--never! I must
take her to those with whom she rightfully belongs."

The Sister Superior's eyes narrowed and glittered, and her face grew
dark. "Never!" she said in a low tone. "I would rather see her dead!
Father Waite, you exceed your authority! I am in charge here, and I
shall report this case to the Bishop!"

The priest stood hesitant for a moment. The futility of his case
seemed to impress him. Taking up his hat, he bowed without speaking
and went out. The Sister Superior stepped to the telephone. Outside
the door the man listened until he caught the number she called. His
face grew dark and angry, and his hands clenched a she strode down the
hall.

On the stairs that led up from the kitchen stood Sister Katherine.

"Hist! Father!"

He stopped and turned to the woman. Her finger went up to her lips.

"Wait on th' corner--behind the church! The lassie will meet you
there!"

Before he could reply the woman had plunged again into the dark
stairway. Stopping at a small closet below, she took out a bundle.
Then she hurried to the kitchen and summoned Carmen, who was sitting
at a table peeling potatoes.

"Troth, lazy lass," she commanded sharply, "do you take the bucket and
mop and begin on the front steps. And mind that ye don't bring me
heavy hand down on ye! Och, lassie darlin'," she added, when she had
drawn the startled girl out of hearing of the others, "give yer old
Katie a kiss, and then be off! Troth, it breaks me heart to see ye
go--but 'twould break yours to stay! Go, lassie darlin', an' don't
fergit old Katie! Here," thrusting the girl's bundle and a dollar bill
into her hands, "an' God bless ye, lass! Ye've won me, heart an' soul!
Ye'll find a frind at th' nixt corner!" pointing up the street. She
strained the girl again to her breast, then opened the door and
hastily thrust her out into the street.

For a moment Carmen stood dazed by the suddenness of it all. She
looked up confusedly at the great, yellow building from which she had
been ejected. There was no visible sign of life. Then, grasping her
bundle and the dollar bill, she hurried out through the gate and
started up the street.

Around the corner stood Father Waite. The man's face was furrowed, and
hi