ney that Gabe took from you. Oh, he is a villain,
if ever there was one. And to think that he should come to you, of all
women, and demand payment for silence. It's a wonder to me the
Almighty doesn't smite him for his wickedness."

Mrs. Hampton now understood why this poor creature had visited her, and
a deep respect and pity welled up in her heart.

"How did you know about this matter?" she asked.

"Oh, Gabe was boasting about it to me. He had been drinking, and when
he is that way you never know what he will say. I took the money from
him when he was asleep. He didn't miss it when he left home. But when
he comes back there will be a terrible time."

"Where is he now?"

"In the city, where he likes to be, instead of staying home and
attending to his work. He's not only a villain, but lazy as sin."

An anxious expression appeared in Mrs. Hampton's eyes as she listened
to this tale of woe. She leaned over and touched her visitor on the
arm.

"You say that your husband talks a great deal when he is drunk?" she
asked.

"Yes, his tongue is never still unless he's asleep. It's awful the way
he raves and swears at times."

"Hettie, do you suppose he will tell what he knows about what we did at
the hospital."

"No, I'm quite sure he won't say a word about that," was the slow and
thoughtful reply. "Gabe's as cunning as a fox, even when he's drunk."

"He told you about it, though."

"Ah, that's different. He knows that I understand all about it. But
he won't say a word to anyone else. If he does, he won't get any more
money. He's cute enough for that."

"And you think he will come to me for more money?"

"I am sure of it. He'll never let up until he drains you of the last
cent, that is, if you let him. And you're not the only one."

"No?" Mrs. Hampton was becoming very curious now. "Does he work his
game upon others?"

"I should say he does. There's another woman from whom he has got
money, more than he got from you, and that's Mrs. Randall."

"Oh! Is she the--the woman who got my baby?"

"The very one. And Gabe was to her before he came to you. That's the
way he's been acting, the villain."

Mrs. Hampton was silent for a few seconds. Her heart was beating fast.
Now she knew for certain that Jess Randall was her own child. The last
vestige of doubt had at last been removed.

"Why didn't you tell me this before, Hettie?" she asked.

"Tell you what?"

"That you were the Hettie