or and turned him so that the light fell full upon his face.

"Baker, can you keep a secret?"

"Me?"

"Yes; can you keep a secret?"

"Well, let me tell you about it; I don't know; mebbe I can."

"Have you ever seen people die?"

"Oh, yes, sir!"

"A great many in the same house?"

"Yes, sir; yes, sir."

"Baker," said the physician, placing his hand gently on the broad
shoulder before him, and looking the man earnestly in the eyes, and
speaking very impressively--"Baker, are you afraid to die?"

"Me?"

"Yes."

"Die?"

"Yes."

There was no expression whatever upon his patient, gentle face. He
gazed past the physician through the window and made no reply.

"Are you afraid of death, Baker?"

"Who? Me?"

"Yes."

There was no sign that he would answer the question or even that he
comprehended it. He shifted his gaze to his upturned boot-toes and
communed with them, but still kept silence.

"There is a man here, Baker, who is very ill, and I think that he will
die. I want some one to help me take care of him. If you go into his
room, perhaps you, too, will die. Are you afraid to go?"

"Was you a-talkin' 'bout wantin' me to wait on him?"

"Yes."

A brighter look came into Baker's face and he said:

"Oh, now, I'll tell you; I'll go."

They entered the stranger's room and found him suffering terribly. The
physician already had put him under vigorous treatment, but he was
rapidly growing worse. Baker regarded him attentively a moment, and
then felt his pulse and put his hand on the sufferer's forehead. A look
of intelligence came into his sad, earnest face, but there was not a
trace of pallor or fear. He beckoned the physician to follow him out to
the passage, and the two went aside, closing the door.

"He's a-goin' to die," said Baker, simply and quietly.

"Yes; but how do you know?"

"Well, I'll tell you about that; I know."

"Have you seen it before?"

"Hunderds."

"Are you afraid of it?"

"Me?"

"Yes."

"Oh, well, they all ought to know it," he said, with a sweep of his
hand towards the corridors.

"Hurry and find Mr. Clayton first and bring him to me."

Baker met Mr. Clayton at the main entrance below and beckoned him to
follow. He led the way into a dark room stored with boxes and then into
the farther corner of it. There he stood Mr. Clayton with his back
against the wall and looked straight into his face. His manner was so
mysterious, and there was so strange an expression