ear.

"Who can it be!" she gasped; "who--what--what can have happened?"
Mrs. Lang was out, gone to the cemetery, so there was no one to
answer the knock but Jessie herself, and realizing it she ran
trembling down the stairs. She had delayed only a moment, but before
she reached the foot of the stairs there came another knock, longer
and louder than the first. Jessie threw herself on the door and
flung it open. A man was standing on the step, evidently trying to
keep himself from making another assault on the door. He seemed
almost beside himself with excitement or fright, or something very
like both.

"Where's your mother?" he demanded impatiently.

"Out," said Jessie shortly, something in the man's manner increased
her alarm until she could scarcely utter a word. "She's--gone--to
the cemetery," she gasped in explanation. "I think--she'll be--
home--soon."

The day was already waning, and the sun going down. She looked out
anxiously, longing to see her mother come into sight. The man gave
an impatient click of his tongue.

"What am I to do?" he demanded testily, gazing anxiously up and down
the street, but as he seemed to be addressing only the air, or
himself, Jessie did not feel obliged or able to make any suggestion.

"Look here," he said, turning quickly round to her, "there has been
an accident, and--and I came to--to--break it to your mother. I know
her and your--your father. I lived here once, and--and I thought it
might be kind to break it to her before the police came for her."

Jessie's heart almost stood still with fright. "The p'lice," she
gasped, "for mother!--oh, what has happened?"

"There's been an accident to your father; there was a bit of a fight
in the train coming home from the races, and--and he got flung
against the door, and it opened--and he fell out."

A low cry of horror broke from Jessie. Instinct told her that the
news was very serious. If her father had not been severely injured--
or worse, the man would not have been so upset.

"Is--is--" she gasped.

"He is taken to the hospital," responded the man quickly, almost as
though he was anxious to check her next question.

"Ah! there is mother!" cried Jessie in a tone of infinite relief, as
she saw her appear at the gate. Mrs. Lang looked very white and very
tired, and an expression of vague fear came into her eyes as they
fell on pale, trembling Jessie, and the stranger, also pale and
evidently greatly agitated.