Billy held tight to Mrs. Comstock and Elnora.
"Good-bye!" he said casually. "I'll come and see you some time."
Wesley Sinton gave a smothered sob, and strode from the room.
Mrs. Comstock started for the door, dragging at Billy as Elnora pulled back, but Mrs. Sinton was before them, her eyes flashing.
"Kate Comstock, you think you are mighty smart, don't you?" she cried.
"I ain't in the lunatic asylum, where you belong, anyway," said Mrs. Comstock. "I am smart enough to tell a dandy boy when I see him, and I'm good and glad to get him. I'll love to have him!"
"Well, you won't have him!" exclaimed Margaret Sinton. "That boy is Wesley's! He got him, and brought him here. You can't come in and take him like that! Let go of him!"
"Not much, I won't!" cried Mrs. Comstock. "Leave the poor sick little soul here for you to beat because he didn't know just how to handle things! Of course, he'll make mistakes. He's got to have a lot of teaching, but not the kind he'll get from you! Clear out of my way!"
"You let go of our boy," ordered Margaret.
"Why? Do you want to whip him before he can go to sleep?" jeered Mrs. Comstock.
"No, I don't!" said Margaret. "He's Wesley's, and nobody shall touch him. Wesley!"
Wesley Sinton appeared behind Margaret in the door-
