"That's all right," said Luther soothingly, and led her back to her seat, where she sat and sobbed. "The man was a bad egg. In that case let him alone, for the children's sake. Can he touch your money?"
"No. Gerty's father left it all in my own name. I am free of him in every way."
"Then you let him alone. He has deserted you for over seven years, so he can't come back to make things unpleasant, and----"
"Let him come," said Mrs. Baldwin viciously. "I want him to come. I'll make things unpleasant for him--the brute."
"But you never said anything of this before, ma'am?"
"No," replied the woman heavily. "Because he passed out of my memory, so to speak. But when I saw his face at the window, it all came back to me--all--all. I want him caught and punished;" she caught Tracey's arm. "He is a burglar, mind, and he may break into my house and kill me. You don't know what a scoundrel he is."
"Yet you always gave us to understand that he was a good sort."
"For the children's sake. That's why I sent Gerty out of the room. I don't want her to know, although he is no kith or kin of hers."
"Then you leave things as they are, ma'am, for the children's sake."
"No," said Mrs. Baldwin, between her teeth. "If I catch him, and the law won't punish him, I'll do so myself. I'll keep a pistol by me. I'll shoot him if he attempts to enter my house! Yes, I will."