But he held out his empty arms, crying, hoa.r.s.ely, "Let me have my kiddie!"

So she went in and gathered up the sleeping babe.

It may have been the father's heart-beats that awakened the little one when she lay against his breast; at any rate the blue eyes opened and stared up at him gravely. Astonishment, alarm gave way to recognition; she smiled drowsily and her lids closed again, then a tiny hand curled about one of McGill's fingers.

His face was wet when he raised it to the stricken woman and said, gently, "We'll go now, if you're ready, Alice."

"What do you--?" She stared at him wildly. "You don't want _me_, McGill; not after all I've done, all I--am?"

"I've always wanted you," he told her, simply. "You'll have to come, for _she_ needs you." Holding the baby close with one arm, he extended the other to his wife, but she drew back, choking.

"Not yet!" she managed to say through her tears. "Not until you know I'm not all bad--only weak."

He took her hand and together they went out, walking slowly so as not to awaken the child.

THE END

Books by REX BEACH

THE CRIMSON GARDENIA AND OTHER TALES OF ADVENTURE.

HEART OF THE SUNSET.

THE AUCTION BLOCK.

THE IRON TRAIL.

THE NET.

THE NE'ER-DO-WELL.

THE SPOILERS.

THE BARRIER.

THE SILVER HORDE.

GOING SOME.