arose, he would do well. I wonder
how I can find out. I might slip downstairs and listen."

She drew her heavy blue robe around her, put on her slippers and softly
opened the door. There was no light in the upper hall, and a turn from the
first flight of stairs hid the dim light below. Directly at this turn a
push-button connected with an electric drop lamp, and this button Dorothy
touched as she passed.

At the broad window-seat she hesitated for a moment, looked out at the
clear, wintry night, and then slipped down the stairs so lightly that even
the cushioned velvet carpet took no impress of her footfall.

At the last step she stopped--a terrible fear clutched her heart. The
library door was open, but no sound came from the room.

She clung to the broad post and listened. Could Ned be worse? Then the
chime of the hall clock startled her. It was just midnight! Dorothy had
no idea it was so very late.

She would just go to the library door--

Involuntarily she turned toward the vestibule. A strange sensation of some
one watching her from without possessed her, terrified her, and at the
same instant a light tap sounded upon the plate-glass door.

Some one was watching her!

For the moment Dorothy could not move or utter a sound. Then the thought
of her sick cousin brought her back to a realization of the emergency. She
must answer the knock and not arouse any one.

Summoning all her self-control Dorothy moved toward the front door. Only
the glass and a thin lace drapery separated her from without, as the storm
door had been left open. Some one stood within the small entrance
hall--the shadow was clearly outlined.

She drew aside the lace curtain.

There stood Tom Scott!

"Open the door," he whispered "I--don't want to detain you."

More surprised now than frightened, Dorothy shoved back the heavy bolt and
gently opened the huge door.

"I had no idea of startling you," began Tom, without waiting for her to
speak, "but I have been so anxious! I've been watching the house, and when
I saw the light flash upstairs I felt as if something must have happened.
The doctor said by midnight--"

"Oh!" exclaimed Dorothy, now realizing the cause of Tom's unexpected
visit, "I was coming downstairs to see how he was. If you just wait I'll
peek in at the door and see. Won't you step inside?"

"Oh, no, indeed," Tom replied in an undertone. "I had no idea of
disturbing any one. I thought just to look around the house an