"I don't know much, mind you, Theo----" "Take hold of my hand, Molly!... Please don't keep me in such suspense." She drew her chair closer to the bed, her heart throbbing first with desire, then with anger, and laid her white fingers in his. "Tell me," insisted Mr. King. "There was a boy----" "You mean the little blind boy?" "No, no," denied Molly, paling. The very mention of such an affliction hurt her sadly. "No," she said again, "I mean a friend of the boy who was shot; you remember him?" "Oh, I remember Maudlin Bates; certainly I do; but I don't think I heard of any other." Molly hadn't either; she had shot at random and the shot told. Theodore sat up in bed with whitening face. "Molly," he stammered, "Molly, has any one hurt her? Has----" Molly shook her head disgustedly. "Don't be foolish, Theo," she chided. "No one would want to hurt a grown girl like her." "Then what about the man?" "I think she went away with him." "Where to?" "I'm not sure----" Theodore sank back. Molly's fingers slipped from his, and for a moment he covered his face with his hands, soundless sobs shaking his weak body. The woman knew by his appearance that he believed her absolutely. "It'll kill me!" he got out at last. Molly slipped an arm under his head. She had never seen him in such a state. "Theo, don't! Don't!" she implored. "Please don't shake so, and I'll tell you all I know." "Very well!... I'm listening." The words were scarcely audible, but Molly knew and hugged the thought that his belief in Jinnie Grandoken had been shaken. "Did you hear that Jinnie was in Binghamton?" "Yes," murmured Theodore. The woman released her hold on Theodore, and said: "The man was over there with her." Theodore turned his face quickly away and groaned. "That's enough," he said. "Don't tell me any more." They were quiet for a long time--very quiet. Then Molly, with still enlarging plans, burst out: "What if I should bring her back to you, Theo?" He flashed dark-circled eyes toward her. "Could you?" he asked drearily. "I think so, perhaps. Suppose you write her a little note, and then----" "Ring the bell for writing material quickly." He had all his old-time eagerness. He was partly sitting up, and Molly placed another pillow under his head. Theodore wrote steadily for some moments. Then he addressed an envelope to "Jinnie Grandoken," placed the letter in it, and fastened down the flap. "You won't mind?" he asked wearily, handing it to Molly and sinking back. Molly took the letter, and with a few more words, went out. Once at home in her bedroom, she sat down, breathing deeply. With a hearty good will she could have torn the letter into shreds, but instead she ripped open the envelope and read it. After she had finished, she let the paper flutter from her hand and sat thinking for a long time. Then, sighing, she got up and tucked the letter inside her dress. CHAPTER XLIV MOLLY GIVES AN ORDER TO JINNIE