"Of course," Miss Lydia agreed, nodding, "Johnny's parents, or his grandfather, have a right to him." Mr. Smith was just leaving the room, but he paused on the threshold and flung a careless word back to her: "His parents could never take him. The thing would come out." "If his _grandfather_ takes him it will come out," said Miss Lydia, following him into the hall. "Yes, but his 'grandfather' won't take him," the old man said, with a grunt of amusement; "it is 'Mr. Smith' who is going to do that." "'Mr. Smith' can't." Her caller turned and stared at her blankly. "His 'grandfather' can have him," said Miss Lydia. "_What!_" "His relations can have Johnny." "But I--" "If you are a relation," Miss Lydia said--her voice was only a little whisper--"you can have him." They stood there in the hall, the big man, and the small, battling gambler of a woman, who was staking her most precious possession--a disowned child--on the chance that the pride of the man would outweigh his desire for ownership. Their eyes--misty, frightened blue, and flashing black--seemed to meet and clash. "He won't dare," she was saying to herself, her heart pounding in her throat. And Johnny's grandfather was saying to himself, very softly, "The devil!" He bent a little, as an elephant might stoop to scrutinize a grasshopper which was trying to block his way, and looked at her. Then he roared with laughter. "Well, upon my word!" he said. He put his cane under his arm, fumbled for his handkerchief, and wiped his eyes. "Miss Sampson," he said, "you are a bully. And you would be a highly successful blackmailer. But you are no coward; I'll say that for you. You are a damned game little party! I'll see to you, ma'am, I'll see to you!--_and I'll get the child_. But I like you. Damned if I don't!" CHAPTER III THE gambler went on her trembling legs back to her cluttered parlor and sat down, panting and pallid. The throw of the dice had been in her favor! It was curious that she had no misgiving as to what she was doing in thus closing the door of opportunity to Johnny--for of course, the new Mr. Smith's protection would mean every sort of material opportunity for him! If it had been his "grandfather's" protection which had been offered, perhaps she might have hesitated, for that would have meant material opportunity plus a love great enough to tell the truth; and Miss Lydia's own love--which was but a spiritual opportunity--could not compete with that! As it was, she tested opportunities by saying, "His _grandfather_ can have him."