no account of what had further
befallen Ephraim, and it seemed but a poor excuse for his non-appearance.

She tossed the paper aside, impatiently:

"But he had his own two good feet left. He could have followed me on
them? I--I--he was always so faithful before."

Mr. Sharp's face sobered.

"He is faithful still, but his feet will serve him poorly for the next
few weeks. Maybe months. Old bones are slow to heal, and the surgeon
says it is a compound fracture. When he fell into the gutter, as my
co-laborer so gayly puts it, he 'broke himself all to smash.' He's in
hospital. As a great favor from the authorities in charge I've seen him.
I've told him about you. I've promised to befriend you and I'll
take you to see him in the morning. I'm sorry that your first night
in our angelic city must be passed in a station-house, but I reckon
it's the safest till I can think of some fitter shelter. Good-night.
My mother used to say that the Lord never shut one door but He opened
another. Ephraim laid up--here am I. Count on me. Good-night."

CHAPTER XVI

A HOSPITAL REUNION

When Ninian Sharp sat down to smoke a cigar at the window of his club it
was with no idea that he was then and there to begin a bit of detective
work which should make him famous. For, though this is anticipating,
that was the reward which the future held for him because of his yielding
to a kindly impulse.

Through him, the helplessness of a little girl won for an almost hopeless
cause the aid of a great newspaper, than which there is no influence
more potent. It took but one hearing of Jessica's story to rouse his
interest and to convince him that here was a "good thing if it could
be well worked up." It promised a "sensation" that would result in
benefit to his paper, to himself, and--for his credit be it said--to
the family of the dead philanthropist.

After he had bidden Lady Jess good-night, the reporter called at the
hotel where Morris Hale was registered and held an interview with that
gentleman. The result of this was pleasing to both men. They had one
common object: the recovery of the missing money which had been entrusted
to Cassius Trent. Mr. Hale wished this for the sake of his New York
patrons, but now hoped, as did Ninian Sharp, that if it were accomplished
it would also clear the memory of Jessica's father from the stain
resting upon it. For the present, they decided to join forces, so to
speak. By agreement, they went togeth