elvet hat and nice _lingerie_----" (Beth pronounced it
lingery).

"Of course. And the piano----"

"Oh, yes. A piano and books--lots of books."

"And a red automobile?"

"Oh, I wouldn't dare wish for that."

"Why not? It's just as easy to wish for an automobile as a piano."

"Yes, I suppose so." She became immediately grave again. "But I can't
seem to believe it all. I'm afraid."

"Of what?"

"Of Hawk Kennedy. I feel that he's going to make trouble for us all, Mr.
Nichols. I'm afraid. I always seem to feel things before they happen.
Any man who could do what he did--murder!"

"There will be some way to get around him."

"But it's dangerous. I don't feel I've got the right to let you do this
for me."

"Oh, yes, you have. I'd do it anyhow. It's only justice."

"But suppose he--suppose----"

"What----?"

"He might kill you, too."

Peter laughed. "Not a chance. You see, I wasn't born to die a violent
death. If I had been, I'd have been dead months ago."

"Oh--the war, you mean?" she asked soberly.

"Yes--the war. Everything is tame after that. I'm not afraid of Hawk
Kennedy."

"But there's danger just the same."

"I hope not. I won't cross that bridge until I come to it."

Beth was silent for a long moment and then with a glance at the clock on
the mantel slowly gathered her music, aware of his voice close at her
ear.

"And if I do this, Beth,--if I get what belongs to you, will you believe
that I have no motive but friendship for you, that I care for you enough
to want you to forgive me for what has happened?"

He had caught her fingers in his own but she did not try to release
them.

"Oh, don't speak of that--_please_! I want to forget you--that day."

"Can't you forget it more easily by remembering me as I am now, Beth?
See. I want you as much now as I did then--just as much, but I cannot
have you until you give yourself to me."

What did he mean? She wasn't sure of him. If marriage was what he meant,
why didn't he say so? Marriage. It was such an easy word to say. Her
fingers struggled in his.

"Please, Mr. Nichols," she gasped.

"You mean that you won't--that you don't care enough----?"

"I--I'm not sure of you----"

"I love you, Beth----"

"You _say_ so----"

"I do--better than anything in the world."

"Enough to--enough to...?"

She was weakening fast. She felt her danger in the trembling of her
fingers in his. Why didn't he finish her question for her? Marriage. It
was s