hey tried to drive
across the track with the Express coming at full speed. The horses took
fright, of course, backed into the gully, and both gentlemen were thrown
some distance. Why they were not killed, or how they escaped being
dashed in pieces by the train, is a wonderful mystery."

"What insane spirit prompted them to attempt crossing the track at such
a time?"

"The spirit of rum. They were both intoxicated."

His listener uttered an exclamation fraught with more dismay than he
had before expressed, and asked his next question in a low, troubled
tone:

"Where were they going?"

"Going home. They had been out on that South road, nine miles from the
city, to attend a dance; had danced and drank by turns all night, and
were dashing home between five and six in the morning. So Harcourt says,
and he is good authority, for he was right behind them, returning from
the same place, and in not much better condition than they until the
accident sobered him."

Poor Theodore! he had had particulars enough; his heart felt like lead.
How _could_ he hope, or work, or pray, any more? They walked in absolute
silence to the corner, signaled a car, and made as rapid progress as
possible. Only two questions more did Theodore venture:

"Did you say Pliny asked for me?"

"Yes--or, no, not exactly asked for you, but kept constantly talking
about you in a wild sort of way, referring to some promise or pledge of
his own, we judged, for he kept saying: 'I never deliberately broke my
word to him before,' and then adding in a pitiful tone: 'He will have
nothing to do with me now; he will never believe me again,' I think the
doctor fears that his brain is injured."

It was some moments before Theodore could trust his voice to speak; and
then he said, inquiringly:

"His parents have been apprised of the accident, of course?"

"Why, no," answered Jim, in a startled tone. "At least I doubt it.
Nobody seemed to think of it. The fact is, Theodore, we were all
frightened out of our wits, and needed your executive ability. I had
been down at the depot to see if my freight had come, and arrived on the
scene just after the accident occurred. I had just brains enough left to
have both gentlemen taken to the hotel and come for you."

Arrived at the Euclid House the two young men went up the steps and
through the halls so familiar to both of them, and sought at once the
room where Pliny had been placed. Two physicians were busy about him,