nowing. The best thing was to prepare her gently.

"My dear Mrs. Traynor--I didn't tell you the trouble just now. There
has been a little trouble. The _Abyssinia_----"

Helen gave a cry of anguish.

"I knew it! I knew it! Kenneth is dead!"

"No, no, my dear lady. These newspaper reports are always grossly
exaggerated. The _Abyssinia_ has met with a little trouble--nothing
very serious, I assure you. Everything is all right, no doubt. Your
husband is well able to take care of himself. We may hear from him any
moment, reassuring us as to his safety."

His words of comfort went unheeded. Her face white as death Helen
tottered rather than walked to the door, reaching it just as Ray,
almost as pale, entered, reading the paper she had just purchased. On
seeing her sister she instinctively made an effort to hide the sheet,
but Helen quickly snatched it out of her hand. Her hand trembling so
violently that she could scarcely make out the letters she glanced at
the big scare-head, printed in red ink, to imitate blood, a merciful
custom sensational newspapers have of making the most of the agony of
others.

S. S. ABYSSINIA GONE DOWN!
ALL PERISH!

For a moment she stood still, looking at the big type with open,
staring eyes. Then, with a low cry, like a wounded animal, she let the
paper slip from her nerveless fingers. There was a furious throbbing
at her temples: her heart seemed to stop. The room spun round, and she
fainted just as Steell rushed forward to catch her in his arms.

"Brandy! Brandy!" he shouted. "She's fainted!"

While Ray ran for the smelling salts and Mr. Parker was bringing the
brandy there came another vigorous pull at the bell. An instant later
the maid entered with a cablegram, which Mr. Parker seized and tore
open. As he read the contents, a look of the greatest surprise and joy
lit up his face.

"Look at this!" he cried.

"What is it?" demanded Steell, still on his knees trying to revive the
unconscious woman.

"This will do her more good than all your brandy."

"What is it?" cried Ray impatiently.

"He's safe!" cried Mr. Parker exultantly.

"Safe!" they all cried.

"Yes--safe." Handing the dispatch to the lawyer, he added: "Here--read
this."

Steell took the dispatch and read:

CAPE TOWN, Saturday: Miraculously saved. Sail to-morrow on the
_Zanzibar_. KENNETH.

CHAPTER XI

The house of mourning had suddenly become transformed into a house