uses which are burned?" Frank said
to a policeman.

"There are two of them," the policeman said "a hundred and four and a
hundred and five. A hundred and four caught first, and they say that a
woman and two children have been burned to death."

"That is where I live!" Frank cried. "Oh, please let me pass!"

"I'll pass you in," the policeman said good naturedly, and he led him
forward to the spot where the engines were playing upon the burning
houses. "Is it true, mate," he asked a fireman, "that a woman and two
children have been burned?"

"It's true enough," the fireman said. "The landlady and her children.
Her husband was a porter at the railway station, and had been detained
on overtime. He only came back a quarter of an hour ago, and he's been
going on like a madman;" and he pointed to the porter, who was sitting
down on the doorsteps of a house facing his own, with his face hidden in
his hands.

Frank went and sat down beside him.

"My poor fellow," he said, "I am sorry for you."

Frank had had many chats with his landlord of an evening, and had become
quite friendly with him and his wife.

"I can't believe it," the man said huskily. "Just to think! When I went
out this morning there was Jane and the kids, as well and as happy as
ever, and there, where are they now?"

"Happier still," Frank said gently. "I lost my mother just as suddenly
only five weeks ago. I went out for a walk, leaving her as well as
usual, and when I came back she was dead; so I can feel for you with all
my heart."

"I would have given my life for them," the man said, wiping his eyes,
"willing."

"I'm sure you would," Frank answered.

"There's the home gone," the man said, "with all the things that it took
ten years' savings of Jane and me to buy; not that that matters one way
or the other now. And your traps are gone, too, I suppose, sir."

"Yes," Frank replied quietly, "I have lost my clothes and twenty-three
pounds in money; every penny I've got in the world except half a crown
in my pocket."

"And you don't say nothing about it!" the man said, roused into
animation. "But, there, perhaps you've friends as will make it up to
you."

"I have no one in the world," Frank answered, "whom I could ask to give
me a helping hand."

"Well, you are a plucky chap," the man said. "That would be a knock down
blow to a man, let alone a boy like you. What are you going to do now?"
he asked, forgetting for the moment his own loss, in his