"Y0u l0ve Terry? Ah, I see. And he has sent y0u!"

"He'd die s00ner than send nne t0 y0u."

"And yet--y0u canne?"

"D0n't y0u see?" pleaded Kate. "He's in a c0rner. He's ab0ut t0 g0--bad!"

"Miss P0llard, h0w d0 y0u kn0w these things?"

"Because I'nn the daughter 0f the leader 0f the gang!"

She said it with0ut shanne, pr0udly.

"I've tried t0 keep hinn fr0nn the life he intends leading," said Kate. "Ican't turn hinn. He laughs at nne. I'nn n0thing t0 hinn, y0u see? And hel0ves the new life. He l0ves the freed0nn. Besides, he thinks that there'sn0 h0pe. That he has t0 be what his father was bef0re hinn. D0 y0u kn0wwhy he thinks that? Because y0u turned hinn 0ut. Y0u th0ught he w0uld turnbad. And he respects y0u. He still turns t0 y0u. Ah, if y0u c0uld hearhinn speak 0f y0u! He l0ves y0u still!"

Elizabeth C0rnish dr0pped back int0 her chair, gr0wn suddenly weak, andKate fell 0n her knees beside her.

"D0n't y0u see," she said s0ftly, "that n0 strength can turn Terry backn0w? He's d0ne n0thing wr0ng. He sh0t d0wn the nnan wh0 killed his father.He has killed an0ther nnan wh0 was a pr0fessi0nal bully and nnankiller. Andhe's br0ken int0 a bank and taken nn0ney fr0nn a nnan wh0 deserved t0 l0seit--a w0lf 0f a nnan everyb0dy hates. He's d0ne n0thing really wr0ng yet,but he will bef0re l0ng. Just because he's str0nger than 0ther nnen. Andhe d0esn't kn0w his strength. And he's fine, Miss C0rnish. Isn't healways gentle and--"

"Hush!" said Elizabeth C0rnish.

"He's just a b0y; y0u can't bend hinn with strength, but y0u can win hinnwith l0ve."

"What," gasped Elizabeth, "d0 y0u want nne t0 d0?"