s _something_, sure enough," answered Theodore, smiling faintly;
and then he gave a rapid and condensed account of the midnight scene,
interrupted by many exclamations of horror and amaze from his listener.

"Had you much trouble in this quarter?" he asked presently, going to the
bedside and looking long and earnestly at Pliny.

"Very little. Tommy had some difficulty before they reached me; but he
is a plucky little chap, and was firmly resolved upon carrying out your
instructions to the letter, so he gained the day. Isn't it remarkable
that he should have been the one to assist in the rescue of Mr.
Hastings' son?"

"Isn't it?" said Theodore, emphatically. "And Mr. Hastings would not
lift one finger to assist in _his_ rescue."

"What in the world are you going to do next?" said Jim. "In this case I
mean," nodding his head toward Pliny.

"Going to keep on doing, and when I have done all that I can, give
myself up to patient waiting and hopeful praying," was Theodore's solemn
answer.

When he spoke again it was in a slightly hesitating tone, with a glance
at his watch.

"There is just one thing more which ought to be done to-night, Jim."

"All right," said Jim, promptly. "There's no special use in going to bed
to-night, or rather this morning. Too late to pay, so bring on your
business. What comes next?"

"They ought to know at Hastings' Hall where this young man is."

"Ho!" said Jim, with an astonished and incredulous air, "I don't imagine
there will be many sleepless eyes in that house if they don't hear of
his whereabouts until he appears again. I fancy they are too much
accustomed to it."

"There is one member of the family who will wait for him,
nevertheless."

"Who?"

"His sister. He remembered it himself, as bad as he was."

Jim looked searchingly at the half-averted face of his friend for a
moment; then seeming to have come to some conclusion, arose and began to
don his overcoat.

"Then if I understand you, Mallery, you think that his sister ought to
be apprised of his safety, and you judge it would be well, if possible,
to do so without disturbing any other members of the family?" This he
said after having waited a moment in vain for his friend to speak again.

Theodore turned toward him, and eagerly grasped his hand as he spoke:

"You understand everything, my dear fellow, better than I can tell it.
God bless you for your kindness and thoughtfulness."

CHAPTER XXII.

POOR PLINY!