It had come at last. He picked the letter up, and tried to guess its meaning. She was going to make demands on him, of course. He had expected this months ago. But why should she be in Baltimore? He thought of a hundred foolish reasons without once the faintest suspicion of the truth entering his mind.
He broke the seal and read its contents. A look of vague incredulity overspread his face, followed by a sudden pallor. The one frightful thing he had dreaded and forgotten was true!
He crushed the letter in his powerful hand with a savage groan:
"God in Heaven!"
He spread it out again and read and re-read its message, until each word burned its way into his soul:
"Our baby was born here yesterday. I was on my way to New York to you, but was taken sick on the train at Baltimore and had to stop. I'm alone and have no money, but I'm proud and happy. I know that you will help me.
"Cleo."
For hours he sat in a stupor of pain, holding this crumpled letter in his hand, staring into the fire.