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which is not likely.โ€

โ€œMuch as I am flattered by your application,โ€ said Somerville, โ€œsince it would seem to place me next in your estimation to your husband, I cannot help suggesting that it is not usual to bestow such a sum on a stranger, or even a friend, without an equivalent rendered.โ€

โ€œI am ready to give you an equivalent.โ€

โ€œOf what value?โ€

โ€œI am willing to be silent.โ€

โ€œAnd how can your silence benefit me?โ€

John Somerville asked this question with an assumption of indifference, but his fingers twitched nervously.

โ€œThat you will be best able to estimate,โ€ said Peg.

โ€œExplain yourself.โ€

โ€œI can do that in a few words. You employed me to kidnap a child. I believe the law has something to say about that. At any rate, the child's mother may have.โ€

โ€œWhat do you know about the child's mother?โ€ demanded Somerville, hastily.

โ€œAll about her!โ€ returned Peg, emphatically.

โ€œHow am I to know that? It is easy to claim the knowledge.โ€

โ€œShall I tell you all? In the first place she married your cousin, after rejecting you. You never forgave her for this. When a year after marriage her husband died, you renewed your proposals. They were rejected, and you were forbidden to renew the subject on pain of forfeiting her friendship forever. You left her presence, determined to be revenged. With this object you sought Dick and myself, and employed us to kidnap the child. There is the whole story, briefly told.โ€

John Somerville listened, with compressed lips and pale face.

โ€œWoman, how came this within your knowledge?โ€ he demanded, coarsely.

โ€œThat is of no consequence,โ€ said Peg. โ€œIt was for my interest to find out, and I did so.โ€

โ€œWell?โ€

โ€œI know one thing moreโ€”the residence of the child's mother. I hesitated this morning whether to come here, or carry Ida to her mother, trusting to her to repay from gratitude what I demand from you, because it is your interest to comply with my request.โ€

โ€œYou speak of carrying the child to her mother. She is in New York.โ€

โ€œYou are mistaken,โ€ said Peg, coolly. โ€œShe is in Philadelphia.โ€

โ€œWith you?โ€

โ€œWith me.โ€

โ€œHow long has this been?โ€

โ€œNearly a fortnight.โ€

John Somerville paced the room with hurried steps. Peg watched him carelessly. She felt that she had succeeded. He paused after awhile, and stood before her.

โ€œYou demand a thousand dollars,โ€ he said.

โ€œI do.โ€

โ€œI have not that amount with me. I have recently lost a heavy sum, no matter how. But I can probably get it to-day. Call to-morrow at this time,โ€”no, in the afternoon, and I will see what I can do for you.โ€

โ€œVery well,โ€ said Peg.

Left to himself, John Somerville spent some time in reflection. Difficulties encompassed himโ€”difficulties from which he found it hard to find a way of escape. He knew how impossible it would be to meet this woman's demand. Something must be done. Gradually his countenance lightened. He had decided what that something should be.





CHAPTER XXIII. THE LAW STEPS IN.

WHEN Peg left Mr. John Somerville's apartment, it was with a high degree of satisfaction at the result of her interview. She looked upon the thousand dollars as sure to be hers. The considerations which she had urged would, she was sure, induce him to make every effort to secure her silence. With a thousand dollars, what might not be done? She would withdraw from the coining-business, for one thing. It was too hazardous. Why might not Dick and she retire to the country, lease a country-inn, and live an honest life hereafter. There were times when she grew tired of the life she lived at present. It would be pleasant to go to some place where she was not known, and enrol herself among the respectable members of the community. She was growing old; she wanted rest and a quiet home. Her early years had been passed in the country. She remembered still the green fields in which she played as a child, and to this woman, old and sin-stained, there came a yearning to have that life return.

It occurred to her to look in upon Jack, whom she had left in captivity four days before. She had a curiosity to see how he bore his confinement.

She knocked at the door, and was admitted by the old man who kept the house. Mr. Foley was looking older and more wrinkled than ever. He had been disturbed of his rest the night previous, he said.

โ€œWell,โ€ said Peg, โ€œand how is our prisoner?โ€

โ€œBless my soul,โ€ said Mr. Foley, โ€œI haven't been to give him his breakfast this morning. He must be hungry. But my head is in such a state. However, I think I've secured him.โ€

โ€œWhat do you mean?โ€

โ€œI have asked him to become one of us,โ€”he's a bold lad,โ€”and he has promised to think of it.โ€

โ€œHe is not to be trusted,โ€ said Peg, hastily.

โ€œYou think not?โ€

โ€œI know it.โ€

โ€œWell,โ€ said the old man, โ€œI suppose you know him better than I do. But he's a bold lad.โ€

โ€œI should like to go up and see him,โ€ said Peg.

โ€œWait a minute, and I will carry up his breakfast.โ€

The old man soon reappeared from the basement with some cold meat and bread and butter.

โ€œYou may go up first,โ€ he said; โ€œyou are younger than I am.โ€

They reached the landing.

โ€œWhat's all this?โ€ demanded Peg, her quick eyes detecting the aperture in the door.

โ€œWhat's what?โ€ asked Foley.

โ€œIs this the care you take of your prisoners?โ€ demanded Peg, sharply. โ€œIt looks as if he had escaped.โ€

โ€œEscaped! Impossible!โ€

โ€œI hope so. Open the door quick.โ€

The door was opened, and the two hastily entered.

โ€œThe bird is flown,โ€ said Peg.

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