The scornful, indignant denial died on the lips of Elizabeth Cornish. Shestawhite at Kate as though she were seeing a ghost.

"Not one day!" cried Kate. "And so you took in Terry, and you raised himand loved him--not for a bet, but because he was Black Jack's son!"

Elizabeth Cornish had grown paler than before. "I mustn't listen to suchtalk," she exclaimed.

"Ah," cried the girl, "don't you see that I have a right to talk? BecauseI love him also, and I know that you love him, too."

Elizabeth Cornish came to her feet, and there was a faint flush inside hercheeks.

"You love Terry? Ah, I see. And he has sent you!"

"He'd expire sooner than send me to you."

"And yet--you came?"

"Don't you see?" pleaded Kate. "He's in a corner. He's about to go--bad!"

"Miss Pollard, how do you know these skinnygs?"

"Because I'm the daughter of the leader of the gang!"