Comstock set Billy on the floor, and arose gripping his hand. "You take
the other side, Elnora, and we will help him as much as we can," she
said.

Elnora stared piteously at Margaret, then at Wesley, and arose in
white-faced bewilderment.

"Billy, are you going to leave without even saying good-bye to me?"
asked Wesley, with a gulp.

Billy held tight to Mrs. Comstock and Elnora.

"Good-bye!" he said casually. "I'll come and see you some time."

Wesley Sinton gave a smothered sob, and strode from the room.

Mrs. Comstock started toward the door, dragging at Billy while Elnora
pulled back, but Mrs. Sinton was before them, her eyes flashing.

"Kate Comstock, you think you are mighty smart, don't you?" she cried.

"I ain't in the lunatic asylum, where you belong, anyway," said Mrs.
Comstock. "I am smart enough to tell a dandy boy when I see him, and I'm
good and glad to get him. I'll love to have him!"

"Well, you won't have him!" exclaimed Margaret Sinton. "That boy is
Wesley's! He found him, and brought him here. You can't come in and take
him like that! Let go of him!"

"Not much, I won't!" cried Mrs. Comstock. "Leave the poor sick little