"You are writing something to your brother-in-law you don't want me to know about?" he accused her, his narrow gaze piercing her.
Margaret quickly decided to resort to guile.
"Daniel," she smiled upon him, "I'm preparing a little surprise for you."
"A surprise?" he repeated suspiciously.
"Yes. Now, while I am finishing my letter, I want you to do something for me. Will you?"
"What?"
"Is there any way of finding out by telephone or telegraph," she asked, her eyes big and sad, her lips drooping, "whether your poor mother is by this time safe at home? I shan't sleep a wink to-night from worrying over that half-mile walk she had to take after dark!"
"She didn't have to take the half-mile walk. I arranged for that. I gave her a quarter to pay for a 'bus ride from the station to her house and I 'phoned to Abe Schwenck to meet her train with the 'bus. Could I have done more?"
"You really did all that?" she asked, her face lighting up with relief.
"I did all that. So you see I'm not 'cruel' and hard-hearted. I did all that for one who is no relation to me and has no claim on me."