n the world, and--and----"

She burst into tears.

Instantly Cora was beside her, putting her arms around the frail figure
in the bed.

"I am your friend," said Cora, softly. "You may trust me--trust all of us.
We are so glad we found you. Mrs. Raymond will be glad, also."

"Mrs. Raymond!"

It was a startled cry.

"Yes."

"Why--why, isn't she still in the office? When--when I ran away she was
there, and, oh! I didn't dare go back. I--I was so afraid of those men.
One of them----"

"Wait, my dear," said Cora, gently. "Perhaps it will be too much for you
to talk now."

"No, that is why I sent for you. I wanted to tell you all. At first I
decided that I would say nothing, but you have been so kind that I decided
I must. Oh, that dreadful wreck! I shall never forget it. Poor Mrs.
Raymond! And she is gone?"

"Yes, and we do not know where. Suppose I tell you how I came to meet her,
and what happened?"

"Then I can tell you my story," answered Nancy. "Please do."

"First drink this," and Cora gave some of the medicine that had been left
by the doctor.

As briefly as she could Cora related the incident of the fire, and story
told by Mrs. Raymond.

"That is just how it happened," said Nancy, with a sigh. "Oh, I little
thought when I ran out of the office that I would cause such suffering
to an innocent woman."

"Then she is innocent?" asked Cora, eagerly.

"Of course she is!"

"Oh, I am so glad! I thought she was all the while. Now, dear, if it won't
tire you too much, please tell me as much as you wish to. Then I will let
the other girls know."

"Well, I am Nancy Ford. I am sorry I denied it, but----"

"That's all right, my dear. I understand."

Nancy struggled with her emotion for a moment, and resumed slowly, with
frequent pauses to compose herself.

"My parents died some time ago, and left considerable property to me,"
said Nancy. "Not a big fortune, of course, but enough so that I had to
have a guardian appointed by the court. And that made all the trouble.
At first Mr. Rickford Cross, my guardian, was very nice. He helped me by
advice, and suggested that I go to a boarding school.

"I did so, and spent some years there. Then, as the securities papa had
left me increased in value, I began to think that perhaps I ought to
know more about my own affairs, and not leave everything to my guardian.
So, without consulting him, I left the boarding school, and went to a
business college. He did not fi