ht
hand upon his heart in a dramatic manner. "I shall make myself as
scarce as I always do when my creditors are after me. What more can I
say?"

"And you will never breathe a word of this to anyone?"

"Trust me to keep the secret, madame, I shall not even tell my wife."

The woman was about to say something more, but a startled look came
into her eyes, as she turned apprehensively toward the door. Nervously
she thrust the cheque into the man's hand.

"Here, take this," she ordered, "and leave the house at once. Somebody
is coming."

Without a word Grimsby seized his hat, sped across the room, opened the
door and disappeared. Trembling violently, the woman sank down in the
chair and buried her face in her hands, a veritable picture of abject
misery and despair.

CHAPTER II

REBELLION

The man had been gone but a few minutes when the door was again opened
and a girl entered. She was a vision fair to behold as she paused for
an instant while her eyes rested upon the woman crouched before the
fire. She evidently had just come in out of the night, for she wore
her out-of-door cloak, and her hair was somewhat tossed by the violence
of the wind. The rich colour of her cheeks betokened the healthy
exercise of one who had walked some distance. An expression of anxiety
came into her dark-brown eyes as she crossed the room, and bent over
the woman in the chair.

"Mother, mother, what is the matter?" she demanded. "Are you ill?"

"Oh, it's you, Jess, is it?" the woman languidly asked as she lifted
her head. "I thought it was Maggie. I was not expecting you so soon.
What brought you home so early?"

"It must have been my guiding angel," the girl smilingly replied. "So
you were lonely without me? Was that the trouble?"

"Yes, I suppose that had something to do with it. But I am not feeling
well to-night. This room seems very oppressive."

"You are too warm," and the girl glanced down at the fire. Her eyes at
once rested upon the stub of the cigarette lying upon the grate where
Grimsby had thrown it. She also smelled the smoke of tobacco and
instantly surmised that something out of the ordinary had happened to
agitate her usually self-possessed mother.

"Somebody has been here annoying you," she cried, turning impulsively
to the woman. "Was it Tom asking for more money?"

Again the woman bowed her head, and made no immediate answer. Her
thoughts were active, and she was glad of any excuse