thought, in her ignorance of distances. Then she asked:

"When do you think they'll come, Matron Wood?"

The good woman waked from a "cat-nap" and was tired enough to be
impatient.

"Oh! don't bother. If they're not here by nine o'clock you'll have
to go to bed. You should be thankful that there is such a place as this
for just such folks as you. Like as not he'll never come. You can't
tell anything about them newspaper men. But you listen to that bell, will
you? I don't see what makes me so sleepy. If it rings, wake me up."

The minutes sped on. In the now silent room the portly matron slumbered
peacefully and Jessica tried, though vainly, to keep a faithful watch.
She did not know that her weary companion was breaking rules and laying
herself open to disgrace; but she was herself very tired, so, presently,
her head dropped on the table and she was also asleep.

Ninian Sharp found the pair thus, and jested with the matron when he
waked her in a way that sounded very much like earnest. "He would have
her removed," and so on; thereby frightening Jessica, who had been
roused by their voices, and looked from one to the other in keen distress.

"I did--I did try to listen for the bell, but it was so still and I
couldn't help it. I'm sorry----"

"Pooh! child. No more could I. It'll be all right if this gentleman
knows enough to hold his tongue," said the woman, anxiously.

"I shouldn't be a gentleman if I didn't--where a lady is concerned.
And I judge from appearances it's about time Miss Jessica went to bed."

The girl's heart sank. This meant disappointment. She understood that
without further words, and turned away her face to hide the tears which
would come now, in spite of all her will.

Then the reporter's hand was on her curls.

"Keep up your courage, child. I've been hustling, as I said I would.
I've found out a lot. I've had boys searching the hotel records all
over town and I know in which one your Mr. Hale is staying. He'll
keep--till we need him."

"But Ephraim? Have you heard nothing of him?"

"I heard a funny yarn about a horse with a stiff leg; that the moment
the sound of a drum was in his ears cooly tossed his aged rider into
the gutter and marched off with the brass band, head up, eyes flashing,
tail switching, a soldier with the best of them. See--it's here in this
evening's _Gossip._"

He held the sheet toward her and Jessica read the humorous account of
Stiffleg's desertion. But there was