"Have you been discovered?" she asked. "I know not. This morning one of the partners asked me for my books, which he wished to put into an accountant's hands. His suspicions are aroused. My salary was only two thousand dollars a year and I have been spending double. Even now the detectives may be after me." "It is horrible!" said his wife, covering her face with her hands. "There is no safety unless we flee," continued Smithers. "I have collected a debt due the firm, on my way home, to have money enough to go to the West. Let us pack up what is really necessary for ourselves and the children. To-night at five there is an express train to Omaha. Will you go?" "I will," answered Mrs. Smithers. "That is settled!" he exclaimed, with a sigh of relief, and kissing her affectionately, he added: "You are ever good to me, Maria." "I am only returning the love you have always shown me," she rejoined. "Get everything in readiness," he continued, "and I will be here with a coach as the shades of night are falling. Heaven grant I may not be too late." Mrs. Smithers watched him depart, and then went about her work like one in a dream, ransacking drawers and hastily packing up those things that she deemed would be of the greatest use to them. While she was thus occupied the children came in, and regarded her with astonishment. "Mamma!" exclaimed Alice, "what are you doing?" "My dear children," answered Mrs. Smithers, "circumstances have occurred which render it necessary for your father to leave Jersey City at once." "Leave!" said Harold. "Where are we going to?" "West. That is all I can tell you at present. Let it be sufficient for you that a great calamity has befallen us." She did not explain matters, as she wished to conceal her husband's shame from his children. "I don't believe it," said Harold, rudely. "Nor I," replied Alice, in the habitual tone of disrespect which she adopted when speaking to her mother. "It's some dodge," continued Harold. "Charley Barker has just told us about Tommy's going over to Europe, and I guess you want to steal all you can and follow him." "Harold! Alice!" she said. "I would have spared you the pain of what I am going to tell you. It's only your wicked and undutiful conduct that forces it from me." "Oh, yes!" replied Harold, satirically, "you care a great deal for us, we know that." "A nice life we should have if it hadn't been for papa," chimed in Alice. "Will you listen to me?" pleaded Mrs. Smithers, who, unaccustomed to exact obedience from the wayward children, did not know how to appease their spite and anger. "Go on, we're listening," answered Harold. "Your papa has been stealing the money from his employers. They have asked for his books, which are being examined by an accountant, and we do not know from one hour to another when the police will be here." The children looked blankly at one another.