tter instead of watching the
house. I suppose he felt too bad to do that. He can't prove anything
now. But he knows. You can't deceive him."

"How do you know he knows?"

"I saw him yesterday."

"Did he talk to you about it?"

"No; I saw his face. He simply looked at me."

"Honey! I'm so sorry for him!"

"I know you are. So am I. But it can't be helped now. We should have
thought of that in the first place."

"But I love you so. Oh, honey, he will never forgive me. He loves me so.
He mustn't know. I won't admit anything. But, oh, dear!"

She put her hands tightly together on his bosom, and he looked
consolingly into her eyes. Her eyelids, were trembling, and her lips.
She was sorry for her father, herself, Cowperwood. Through her he could
sense the force of Butler's parental affection; the volume and danger of
his rage. There were so many, many things as he saw it now converging to
make a dramatic denouement.

"Never mind," he replied; "it can't be helped now. Where is my strong,
determined Aileen? I thought you were going to be so brave? Aren't you
going to be? I need to have you that way now."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

"Are you in trouble?"

"I think I am going to fail, dear."

"Oh, no!"

"Yes, honey. I'm at the end of my rope. I don't see any way out just at
present. I've sent for my father and my lawyer. You mustn't stay
here, sweet. Your father may come in here at any time. We must meet
somewhere--to-morrow, say--to-morrow afternoon. You remember Indian
Rock, out on the Wissahickon?"

"Yes."

"Could you be there at four?"

"Yes."

"Look out for who's following. If I'm not there by four-thirty, don't
wait. You know why. It will be because I think some one is watching.
There won't be, though, if we work it right. And now you must run,
sweet. We can't use Nine-thirty-one any more. I'll have to rent another
place somewhere else."

"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry."

"Aren't you going to be strong and brave? You see, I need you to be."

He was almost, for the first time, a little sad in his mood.

"Yes, dear, yes," she declared, slipping her arms under his and pulling
him tight. "Oh, yes! You can depend on me. Oh, Frank, I love you so!
I'm so sorry. Oh, I do hope you don't fail! But it doesn't make any
difference, dear, between you and me, whatever happens, does it? We will
love each other just the same. I'll do anything for you, honey! I'll do
anything you say. You can trust me. They sha'n't know any