"
Force's jaw dropped. "Are you crazy, Bingle?" he gasped. He lifted his
head the next instant in order to avoid the agitated finger that was
being shaken under his nose.
"I don't intend that you shall say to the world that she is a child of
shame. Not at all, sir! That would be the height of cruelty. But
you've got to tell your wife the story you've told me if you want to
take Kathleen away from me. She has got to know that the child is
yours. You can't come any adoption dodge over me, Force. She's already
adopted. She--"
"But, great heaven, man, my wife wouldn't have her in the house if--if
she knew the truth about her," exploded the wretched Force. "No woman
would stand for that."
"Then, by the eternal Moses," shouted Mr. Bingle, "she'll stay right
here with Daddy and Mammy Bingle."
"But she's mine! If, as you say, she is the daughter of Agnes Glenn
there isn't the slightest doubt that she belongs to me. I want to do
the right thing by the child. I want to--"
"No use talking, Force. There's but one way."
"But, damn it all, I CAN'T go to my wife with all this! I can't--"
"Then Kathleen stays where she is," said Mr.
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