Blakie swung her up and kissed her hot, anxious little face.

“Well, Renie!” he said.

“Daddy!” she answered, with a sigh of relief.

“And Marty!”

“Oh, daddy dear!”

Taking a hand of each, he turned back toward the office. No one would jostle them now—not with his strength to protect them. Poor little devils!

There came back to him, in a rush, all the old savage exasperation he thought he mastered. Just like Katherine, to send them alone!

“Daddy, I’ve got a kitten!” said Martha. “It’s a gray, fluffy one!”

But he was not listening.

“You shouldn’t have come alone,” he said curtly.