should be here at any
moment now."

"We're intruding," Mary whispered. "We must go. I mustn't look any more.
I'll be coveting my neighbor's house."

The doctor turned to the window and signaled to someone on the lawn, as
Mary hurried down the stairs.

She fairly ran into Jim, who was being pulled into the house by the boy.

"'Ook, Mamma! 'Ook! I found a Daddy! He says he be my Daddy if you let
him. Please let him. I want a Daddy, an' I like him. Please!"

Jim blushed and trembled and lifted his eyes appealingly, while Mary
stood white and still watching him in a sort of helpless terror.

The child moved on to his wagon.

"Say, little girl," Jim began in low tones, "it's been a thousand years
since I saw you. Don't drive me away--just give me one chance for God's
sake and this baby's that He sent us! I've gone straight. I've sent back
every dishonest dollar. I'm earning a clean living down here and a good
one. I've practiced for two years cutting out the slang, too."

He paused for breath and she turned her head away.

"Just listen a minute! I know I was a beast that night. I'm not the same
now. I've been through the fires of hell and I've come out a cleaner
man. Let me show you how much I love you! Life's too short, but just
give me a chance. If I could undo that awful hour when I hurt you so,
I'd crawl 'round the world on my hands and knees--and I'll show you that
I mean it! I built this house for you and the baby."

Mary turned suddenly with wide dilated eyes.

"You--YOU built this house?" she gasped.

"I've worked on it every hour, day and night, the past two years when
I wasn't earning a living in the mine. I made every stick of that
furniture in the rooms up there--for you and my boy. The house is
yours--whether you let me stay or not."

"I--I can't take it, Jim," she faltered.

"You've got to, girlie. You can't throw a gift like this back in a
fellow's face--it cost too much! Your money's all gone. You've got to
bring up that kid. He's mine, too. I'm man enough to support my wife and
baby and I'm going to do it. I don't care what you say. You've got to
let me. I'm going to work for you, live for you and die for you--whether
you stay with me or not. I've got the right to do that, you know."

She lifted her head and faced him squarely for the first time, amazed at
the new dignity and strength of his quiet bearing.

"You HAVE changed, Jim----"

Her eyes sought the depths of his soul in a moment's