g to him she had only
sinister ends in view. Her story might be true or false. He thought
hurriedly, and tried to regain exterior calmness. As soon as he felt
that he could speak without betraying too much eagerness, he said, with
an appearance of having recognized her,

"You are Mrs.----?"

He paused, but she did not supply the name.

"Mrs.----? Mrs.----? what is it?"

"No matter, Mr. Dinneford," answered Mrs. Bray, with the coolness and
self-possession she had now regained. "What I have just told you is
true. If you wish to follow up the matter--wish to get possession of
your daughter's child--you have the opportunity; if not, our interview
ends, of course;" and she made a feint, as if going to rise.

"Is it the child a woman named Pinky Swett stole away from Briar street
on Christmas day?" asked Mr. Dinneford, speaking from a thought that
flashed into his mind, and so without premeditation. He fixed his eyes
intently on Mrs. Bray's face, and saw by its quick changes and blank
surprise that he had put the right question. Before she could recover
herself and reply, he added,

"And you are, doubtless, this same Pinky Swett."

The half smile, half sneer, that curved the woman's lips, told Mr.
Dinneford that he was mistaken.

"No, sir," was returned, with regained coolness. "I am not 'this same
Pinky Swett.' You are out there."

"But you know her?"

"I don't know anything just now, sir," answered the woman, with a chill
in her tones. She closed her lips tightly, and shrunk back in her chair.

"What, then, are your here for?" asked Mr. Dinneford, showing
considerable sternness of manner.

"I thought you understood," returned the woman. "I was explicit in my
statement."

"Oh, I begin to see. There is a price on your information," said Mr.
Dinneford.

"Yes, sir. You might have known that from the first. I will be frank
with you."

"But why have you kept this secret for three years? Why did you not come
before?" asked Mr. Dinneford.

"Because I was paid to keep the secret. Do you understand?"

Too well did Mr. Dinneford understand, and it was with difficulty he
could suppress a groan as his head drooped forward and his eyes fell to
the floor.

"It does not pay to keep it any longer," added the woman.

Mr. Dinneford made no response.

"Gain lies on the other side. The secret is yours, if you will have it."

"At what price?" asked Mr. Dinneford, without lifting his eyes.

"One thousand dollars, cas