wn to read
it once more.

It was short, concise, and to the point.

* * * * *

"MR. KING:

"I made a mistake in ever thinking I cared for you. I have some one
else now I love better, and expect to be very happy with him.

"JINNIE GRANDOKEN."

* * * * *

The next morning when Morse came jauntily in, she handed him the copy
of it without a word. He only said to her:

"You'd have saved yourself a lot of trouble if you'd done this in the
first place. You won't bother me long now. Mr. King is home and almost
well." Then he smiled, showing his white, even teeth. "He'll be glad
to receive this letter."

"Get out," Jinnie gritted. "Get out before I--I kill you!"

* * * * *

Two days later Molly Merriweather was in the seventh heaven of bliss.
As Morse had said, Theodore was home, looking more like himself. With
her heart in her mouth, the woman entered his sitting room with
Jinnie's letter. Jordan had had it mailed to King from Binghamton.

"I've brought you a letter, Theodore," smiled Molly nervously.

He extended his hand, and upon recognizing the handwriting, turned
deadly white.

"I'd like to be alone," said he without looking up.

When he sent for her a little while later, and she sat opposite him,
he said:

"I'd rather not speak of--of--Miss Grandoken again. Will you give me a
drink, Molly?" And the woman noted the hurt look in his eyes.

CHAPTER XLVI

"BUST 'EM OUT"

"Jinnie, ain't we ever goin' back to Peggy?" Bobbie asked one day, his
eyes rolling upward. His small face was seamed with questioning
anxiety.

The girl drew him to her lap.

How many times Jinnie had asked that question of herself! How she
longed for Paradise Road, with its row of shacks, Peggy and the baby!
Bobby knew how she felt by the way she squeezed his hand.

"Ain't we?" he asked again.

"Some time," answered Jinnie limply.

"Did the black man say we could go, Jinnie?" the boy demanded.

Jinnie patted his head comfortingly.

"I hope he'll take us home soon," she remarked, trying to put full
assurance into her tones.

Bobbie zigzagged back to the divan, drew himself upon it, and Jinnie
knew by his abstracted manner that he was turning the matter over in
his busy little brain.

Two hours later, when Jordan Morse came in, the child w