ung man, in his
present state, as a dose of prussic acid would."

"Who is the elder of those two physicians?" questioned Theodore of one
of the waiters as they left the room together.

"That's Dr. Arnold, just the greatest man in this city folks think, and
the young fellow is Dr. Vincent, a student once, and now a partner of
Dr. Arnold."

Theodore mentally hoped, as he recognized the familiar names, that Dr.
Armitage's absence would be indefinitely prolonged. He glanced into the
room where Ben Phillips lay. He was insensible, and had been from the
first. Two more physicians were in attendance there, but seemed to be
doing nothing, and shook their heads very gravely in answer to
Theodore's inquiring look. Mr. Phillips had been seen down town, near
the freight office, and thither Jim had gone in search of him. There
seemed to be nothing for Theodore but to go to Hastings' Hall himself.
He shrank from it very much--nothing but messages of evil, or scenes of
danger, seemed to connect him with this house.

"They will learn to look on me as the very impersonation of evil
tidings," he said, nervously, as he awaited admittance. His peremptory
ring was promptly answered by John.

"Was Mr. Hastings in?"

No, he was not; he and Mrs. Hastings had accompanied Mrs. and Miss De
Witt to the house of a friend, nine miles distant, and were to be absent
two days. In spite of himself Theodore felt a sense of relief.

"Then tell Miss Hastings I would like to see her at once," was his
direction.

John stared.

"It was very early. Miss Hastings had not yet left her room. If Mr.
Mallery could--"

Theodore interrupted him.

"Tell her I must see her at once, or as soon as possible." And at this
opportune moment Dora came down the stairs. Theodore advanced to meet
her, and feeling almost certain of the character with which he had to
deal, came to the point at once without hesitation or circumlocution.

"I am not the bearer of good news this morning, Miss Hastings. There has
been an accident, and Pliny is injured, not seriously we hope. He is at
the Euclid House. Would you wish to go to him at once?"

Dora's face had grown paler, but she neither exclaimed nor fainted, and
answered him promptly and firmly.

"I will go to him at once. Mr. Mallery, our carriage is away, will you
signal a car for me? I will be ready in five minutes. But tell me this
much. Ought I to send for my father and mother?"

"I fear you ought," said Theodore