he can see we don't mean to hurt his post."

Scruff reluctantly roused and moved a pace or two, then went to sleep
again. The shadow of a building that had sheltered them from the hot
sunshine passed gradually and left them exposed to the full glare from
the sky. Both Jessica and the burro were used to heat, however, and did
not greatly suffer from it. But this motionless waiting became almost
intolerable to active Lady Jess, and the sharpness of her hunger changed
into faintness. The sidewalks seemed to be rising up to strike her and
her head felt queer; so she pulled the hot Tam from her curls, leaned
her cheek against Scruff's neck, and, to clear her dizzy vision, closed
her eyes. Then for a long time knew no more.

A young man sat down to smoke his after-dinner cigar before the window
of a clubhouse across the way. Idly observant of the comparatively few
persons passing at that hour, his artist eye was caught by the scarlet
gleam of Jessica's cap, fallen against the curbstone.

"Hello! That child has been in that spot for two hours, I think. She
was there before I went to dinner and must be dead tired. But she and
the burro are picturesque--I'll sketch them."

He whipped out notebook and pencil and by a few skillful lines reproduced
the pair opposite. But as he glanced toward them, now and then, during
this operation, he became convinced that something was amiss with his
subject.

"Poor little thing! If she's waiting for anybody she keeps the baby
too long. I'm going over and speak to her. If she's hungry I'll send
her a sandwich."

At his touch on her shoulder Jessica roused. Her sleep had refreshed her,
though she was still somewhat confused.

"Oh! Ephraim! How long you've been! Why--it isn't Ephraim!"

"No, little girl, I'm not Ephraim, but I'm a friend. I'm afraid
you will be ill standing so long in the hot sun. Are you waiting for
anybody?"

The voice was kind and Jessica was glad to speak to any one. She told
her story at once in a few words. The young man's face grew grave as
he listened, still he spoke encouragingly.

"It's quite easy for strangers in a big place to get separated.
Suppose, since you haven't had your dinner, as I guess, that you go with
me and have some. Wait, I'll just speak to that policeman, yonder,
and ask him to have a lookout for your Ephraim, while we're in the
restaurant. There's a good place halfway down the block, and from its
window you can watch the burro for yourself