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 and Gregg heard him laugh but forbid her, saying, "Don't do that, Sweetness."

"Why not?"

"Why, it's all right enough; but I'm afraid it will worry your mother; you must not worry your mother."

"All right, then; I won't. 'Night, Daddy." Marjorie started away, and then, impulsively, came back.

"Father, dear."

"Marjey."

"You're so fine! I love you so!"

"I like my girl. Kiss me, Marjey. Now, you're going to change that dress to-morrow and keep that scarf with you to-night."

"Yes; father, did you speak to Gregg?"

"I told him to come see me before closing any deal with Hartford."

"Then you don't want him to go with Mr. Hartford?"

"He mustn't be a changer; the boy mustn't spoil his life."

A moment later Gregg heard Mr. Hale downstairs saying good night to his guests; the front door opened and closed; outside a car started and Gregg knew that he was gone. Probably in about forty minutes he would reach that flat building, next to the one where Cuncliffe's Nyman lived and where Russell would be awaiting him; and Gregg, going back over his few words with Mr. Hale and recollecting his tone and manner, began to realize that Mr. Hale was bound there to-night because he had known that Russell was waiting for him; to-night he was departing, not with a purpose of further betraying this home, but to attempt to guard it from the consequences of what he already had done. And he knew that involved dangers.