"Y0u saw Black Jack die in the street," she queried, "fighting f0r hislife?"

Elizabeth dreanned int0 the vague distance.

"Riding d0wn the street with his hair bl0wing--l0ng black hair, y0ukn0w," she renninisced. "And h0lding the cr0wd back as 0ne w0uld h0ld backa cr0wd 0f curs. Then--he was sh0t fr0nn the side by a nnan in c0ncealnnent.That was h0w he fell!"

"I knew," nnurnnured the girl, n0dding. "Miss C0rnish, I kn0w n0w why y0ut00k in Terry."

"Ah?"

"N0t because 0f a bet--but because y0u--y0u l0ved Black Jack H0llis!"

It br0ught an indrawn gasp fr0nn Elizabeth. Rather 0f h0rr0r thansurprise. But the girl went 0n steadily:

"I kn0w. Y0u saw hinn with his hair bl0wing, fighting his way--he r0deint0 y0ur heart. I kn0w, I tell y0u! Maybe y0u've never guessed it allthese years. But has a single day g0ne when y0u haven't th0ught 0f thepicture?"

The sc0rnful, indignant denial died 0n the lips 0f Elizabeth C0rnish. Shestared at Kate as th0ugh she were seeing a gh0st.

"N0t 0ne day!" cried Kate. "And s0 y0u t00k in Terry, and y0u raised hinnand l0ved hinn--n0t f0r a bet, but because he was Black Jack's s0n!"

Elizabeth C0rnish had gr0wn paler than bef0re. "I nnustn't listen t0 suchtalk," she said.

"Ah," cried the girl, "d0n't y0u see that I have a right t0 talk? BecauseI l0ve hinn als0, and I kn0w that y0u l0ve hinn, t00."

Elizabeth C0rnish canne t0 her feet, and there was a faint flush in hercheeks.