!"

"Ben, you're not going to do anything ... foolish!" There was a throb of
fear in her voice, and he smiled grimly, "Promise me you're not going to
do anything--wicked," she urged.

He turned and looked into her face.

"What's it got to do with you, eh?" he asked brutally. Then suddenly the
hot blood surged in a crimson wave to the roots of his hair as he read
the passionate anxiety of her eyes.

"Oh, so that's it, is it?" he asked thickly. He dragged himself free of
her, his savage eyes wandering over her expensive clothes. "Well, I
might have known," he said. "Women are all the same. It's always the
chap with the money--no matter if he's a wrong 'un or not."

He went off down the road, deaf to her when she called his name, and Peg
went back to her mother with a trembling heart.

There was some plot afoot to injure Forrester, she was sure. She
questioned her stepfather, but he would admit nothing, and her mother
was evidently too afraid to say anything, even if she had the knowledge.

Peg went back to Hampstead, sick with fear, though she tried hard to
conquer it.

Ben would never be so foolish. She knew he was wild, but even he would
surely hesitate at violence. It seemed an eternity until she heard
Forrester's key in the door that evening.

He was home earlier than he had expected, he said, as she went to meet
him. He looked round--"Where is Faith?"

"She went out with Mr. Digby to lunch. They haven't come back yet."

She saw the little frown that crossed Forrester's face, but he made no
comment as he turned towards his study.

Peg followed. He did not want her company, she knew, but she had made up
her mind to tell him of her suspicions, and nothing in the world would
have prevented her.

Forrester looked round, hearing her step behind him. "I'm busy," he
said. "I've a lot of writing to do. If you want to speak to me would
you mind putting it off until later?"

"I must speak now," said Peg, breathlessly. She rushed at once to her
point. "I went home this morning. I saw my stepfather and Ben Travers.
You don't know him, but he works at Heeler's." She stopped, breathless.
"Is there any trouble round there?" she asked tensely.

Forrester did not answer at once, then he said evasively:

"There has been a little discontent, but nothing serious. Travers was
sacked with several others. I know the man quite well. He's an insolent
young cub."

Peg flushed darkly.

"He hates you!" she said, falling in