t kind in you, Zack, saying you were sorry for her just
now. She died afore ever you was born." His hand relaxed its grasp: and
when he had repeated those last words, he turned a little away, and said
no more.

Astonishment and curiosity impelled young Thorpe to hazard another
question.

"Was she a sweetheart of yours?" he asked, unconsciously sinking his
voice to a whisper, "or a relation, or--"

"Kin to me. Kin to me," said Mat quickly, yet not impatiently; reaching
out his hand again to Zack's arm, but without looking up.

"Was she your mother?"

"No."

"Sister?"

"Yes."

For a minute or two Zack was silent after this answer. As soon as he
began to speak again, his companion shook his arm--a little impatiently,
this time--and stopped him.

"Drop it," said Mat peremptorily. "Don't let's talk no more, my head--"

"Anything wrong with your head?" asked Zack.

Mat rose to his feet again. A change began to appear in his face. The
flash that had tinged it from the first, deepened palpably, and spread
up to the very rim of his black skull-cap. A confusion and dimness
seemed to be stealing over his eyes, a thickness and heaviness to be
impeding his articulation when he spoke again.

"I've overdone it with the brandy," he said, "my head's getting hot
under the place where they scalped me. Give me holt of my hat, and show
me a light, Zack. I can't stop indoors no longer. Don't talk! Let me out
of the house at once."

Young Thorpe took up the candle directly; and leading the way
down-stairs, let him out into the street by the private door, not
venturing to irritate him by saying anything, but waiting on the
door-step, and watching him with great curiosity as he started for his
walk. He was just getting out of sight, when Zack heard him stop, and
strike his stick on the pavement. In less than a minute he had turned,
and was back again at the door of the tobacconist's shop.

"Zack," he whispered, "you ask about among your friends if any of 'em
ever knowed a man with that name I told you of."

"Do you mean the _'Arthur Carr'_ you were talking about just now?"
inquired young Thorpe.

"Yes; _Arthur Carr,"_ said Mat, very earnestly. Then, turning away
before Zack could ask him any more questions, he disappeared rapidly
this time in the darkness of the street.

CHAPTER XIII. THE SEARCH FOR ARTHUR CARR.

Mr. Blyth was astir betimes on the morning after Mat and young Thorpe
had visited him in the studio. M