your child."

"I tried to appeal to his better nature that awful night," Mary
interrupted, "but he only laughed at me!"

"You owe him another trial, little mother--you owe it to his boy, too."

Mary shook her head bitterly.

"I can't--I just can't!"

"You won't see him once?"

She sprang to her feet trembling.

"No--no!"

"I don't think it's fair."

"I'm afraid of him! You can't understand his power over my will."

"Come, come, this is sheer cowardice--give the devil his dues. Face him
and fight it out. Tell him you're done forever with him and his life, if
you will--but don't hedge and trim and run away like this. I'm ashamed
of you."

"I won't see him--I've made up my mind."

The Doctor threw up both hands.

"All right. If you won't, you won't. We'll let it go at that."

He paused and changed his tones to friendly personal interest.

"And you're determined to leave me and take my kid away tomorrow?"

"We must go. I've no money to pay my board. I can't impose on you----"

"It's going to be awfully lonely."

He looked at her with a strange, deep gaze, lifted his stooping
shoulders with sudden resolution and changed his manner to light banter.

"I suppose I couldn't persuade you to give me that boy?"

She smiled tenderly.

"You know his father did leave his mark on him after all! The eyes are
all his. Of course, I will admit that those drooping lids have often
been the mark of genius--perhaps a genius for evil in this case. If you
don't want to take the risk--now's your chance. I will----"

Mary shook her head in reproachful protest.

"Don't tease me, dear doctor man. I've just this one day more with you.
I'm counting each precious hour."

"Forgive me!" he cried gayly. "I won't tease you any more. Come, we'll
run over now and see our neighbor's new bungalow before you go. You
admire this one and threaten to duplicate it. He has built a better
one."

"I don't believe it."

"You'll go?"

"If you wish it----"

"Good. We'll take the boy, too. He can drive his new wagon the whole
way. It's only half a mile."

CHAPTER XXIX. THE NEW MAN

The door of the bungalow stood wide open. Mary paused in rapture over
the rich beds of wood violets that carpeted the spaces between the drive
and the log walls.

"Aren't they beautiful!" she cried. "A perfect carpet of dazzling green
and purple!"

"Come right in," the Doctor urged from the steps. "My neighbor's a
patient of mine. He hasn't mov