y. Albert, I hope you will see the
folly of remaining longer."

"Mr. Smith tells me it would not be safe to return yet, Marie. Be
patient; in a little while everything will have blown over. Remember,
we are paying Mr. Smith, who is experienced in these matters, and it is
good business to take his advice."

Gabrielle remained silent during the conversation between her father and
mother. She had, as usual, spent the best part of the day attending her
hero at the hospital, protecting him from the consequences of her
foolish father's acts and from his traitorous chum. Her plans were
carrying well, and were it not for her mother's fretfulness Hoboken or
any spot within a reasonable distance from the hospital would be a
satisfactory abiding place for her.

Gabrielle's disinterestedness had already aroused her father's
suspicion.

"You seem to be satisfied here, Gabrielle," said he, turning to his
daughter, whose air of contentment seemed to him to be based on
something more than a sustaining faith in Jim Hosley; it must, he
thought, include a full knowledge of Jim's retreat. That night she
seemed to be most aggravatingly self-satisfied, although she had really
never been otherwise from the moment of his first denunciation of Jim,
closely followed by the family's flight. This must be something more
than stoicism. She had outgeneraled him in some way.

"Yes, I am perfectly satisfied, father," replied Gabrielle. "Mother,
however, needs her home. The days drag heavily here. A few weeks' change
was well enough, and I believe it might have helped her; but you can see
that she is worrying a great deal now. Is it worth while, do you think,
to sacrifice mother's comfort, perhaps her health?"

"These rooms are not to my liking so well as those in Ninety-sixth
Street, but Mr. King wrote to me again the other day that the same
fellow was around again to serve me with that subpoena. Hoboken may
not be so desirable as home, but I think you would both be sorry to
return and undergo the ordeal we have been delivered from by coming
here. I am trying a little plan now which, if it works, may bring us
home soon. I think it is the safe way out. Mr. Smith and I are now at
work on it. If all goes well, Marie, you will be happily returned to
your home very soon, so please be as patient as you can a few days
longer. This miserable incident will then be closed forever, and we may
walk abroad again among our friends, with our reputations unsull