em; I shall refuse to be sold. But how does that woman
control my father?" she leaned closer in her earnestness, lowering her
voice. "She has not won him by charms; he is afraid of her."

"Afraid? Are you certain of that?"

"Yes. I cannot tell you how I know; perhaps it is all womanly
instinct, but I do know that he is terrorized; that he dare not oppose
her wish. I have read the truth in his eyes, and I am sure he is harsh
to me only because he is driven by some threat. What can it be?"

"You have never spoken to him of your suspicions? Asked him?"

"Yes and no. I tried once, and shall never forget the expression of
his face. Then he turned on me in a perfect paroxysm of anger. I
never even dared hint at the matter again."

The Sergeant stared out into the street, not knowing what to say, or
how to advise. Almost unconscious of the action his hand stole along
the rail until it touched hers.

"If the woman has not ensnared him by her usual methods," he said
soberly, "and I think myself you are right about that, for I watched
them together in the dance hall--I did not comprehend what it meant
then, but it seemed to me he actually disliked being in her
company--then she has uncovered something in his past of which he is
afraid, something unknown to you, which he does not desire you ever to
know."

"Yes," softly, "that must be true."

"No; it may not be true; it may all be a lie, concocted for a purpose.
A clever woman might so manipulate circumstances as to convince him she
held his fate in her hands. We must find that out in this case."

"But how, Sergeant Hamlin? He will not tell me."

"Perhaps she will tell me if I can reach her alone," he said grimly,
"or else that husband of hers--Dupont. He 'll know the whole story.
It would give me pleasure to choke it out of him--real pleasure. Then
there 's Connors, just the sort of sneaking rat if he can be caught
with the goods; only it is not likely he knows much. I shall have to
think it all out, Miss Molly," he smiled at her confidently. "You see,
I am a bit slow figuring puzzles, but I generally get them in time.
You 've told me all you know?"

"Everything. It almost seems silly when I try to explain what I feel
to another."

"Not to me. I knew enough before to understand. But, perhaps, you had
better go--hush, some one is entering the parlor."

She got to her feet in spite of his restraining hand, startled and
unnerved.

"Oh, I must no