d Wellwater Junction, on
the Union and Dominion line, several hours behind time, and after the
usual stop there for supper, had joined the Boston train, on the United
States and Canada, for Montreal, and had, just after leaving the
Junction, run off the track. "The deadly car stove got in its work" on
the wreck, and many lives had been lost by the fire, especially in the
parlor car. It was impossible to give a complete list of the killed and
wounded, but several bodies were identified, and among the names of
passengers in the Pullman that of T. W. Northwick was reported, from a
telegram received by the conductor at Wellwater asking to have a seat
reserved from that point to Montreal.

"It ain't him, I know it ain't, Miss Northwick," said Elbridge. He
offered to give her the paper, but took another look at it before he
finally yielded it. "There's lots of folks of the same name, I don't
care what it is, and the initials ain't the ones."

"No," she said, doubtfully, "but I didn't like the last name being the
same."

"Well, you can't help that; and as long as it ain't the initials, and
you know your father is safe and sound at the Mills, you don't want to
worry."

"No," said Adeline. "You're sure he told you he was going to the Mills?"

"Why, didn't he tell _you_ he was? I don't recollect just what he said.
But he told me about that note he left for me, and that had the money in
it for the fun'al--" Elbridge stopped for a moment before he added, "He
said he'd telegraph just which train he wanted me to meet him when he
was comin' back.... Why, dumn it! I guess I _must_ be crazy. We can
settle it in half an hour's time--or an hour or two at the outside--and
no need to worry about it. Telegraph to the Mills and find out whether
he's there or not."

He dropped his harness, and went to the telephone and called up the
Western Union operator at the station. He had the usual telephonic
contention with her as to who he was, and what he wanted, but he got her
at last to take his dispatch to Ponkwasset Falls, asking whether
Northwick was at the Mills.

"There!" he said, "I don't believe but what that'll fix it all right.
And I'll bring you in the answer myself, when it comes, Miss Northwick."

"I do hate to trouble you with my foolishness, when--"

"I guess you needn't mind about that," said Elbridge. "I guess it
wouldn't make much difference to me, if the whole world was burnt up. Be
a kind of a relief." He did not mean j