“Does Biddy Roan live here?” asked the stranger.
“Yes.”
“Well, may I see her? Tell her an old friend has come back from abroad and wants to see her. Will you tell her, cove?”
“Let me,” whispered Nellie, and she went to the bedroom door. But before she opened it she heard an ejaculation from Tom’s lips.
The stranger was staring at her lover with a crafty expression in his eyes, while Tom was looking like death.
She did not say a word to Biddy, but ran back to Tom.
“What is it? Do you know this man, dear Tom?”
“I once knew him, Nellie,” said Tom, eyeing his former companion with an expression of hatred.
Had not this same sneaky fellow almost killed his darling? Had he not taken the dainty child fresh from its mother’s bosom and thrown it into the water?
“Tom Cooper!” he was heard to mutter.