when Janice
stopped. Mr. Trimmins sauntered up, too, but the sullen Jack Besmith
seemed to shrink from approaching the visitors.

"I will get you there if possible in time to see the baby once more,
Mr. Narnay, if you will come right along as you are," said Janice,
commiseratingly, after explaining briefly their errand. "Dr. Poole
told me the time was short."

"Go ahead, Jim," said Trimmins, giving the man's hand a grip. "Miss
Day, you sartain sure are a good neighbor."

Janice turned the car as soon as Narnay was in the tonneau. The man
sat clinging with one hand to the rail and with the other over his face
most of the way to town.

Speed had to be reduced when they turned into High Street; but
Constable Poley Cantor turned his back on them as they swung around the
corner into the street leading directly down to Pine Cove.

Janice left Nelson in the car at the door, and ran into the cottage
with the anxious father. Mrs. Narnay sat with the child on her lap,
rocking herself slowly to and fro, and weeping. The children--even
Sophie--made a scared little group in the corner.

The woman looked up and saw her husband. "Oh, Jim!" she said. "Ain't
it too bad? She--she didn't know you was comin'. She--she's jest
died."

Janice was crying frankly when she came out of the house a few minutes
afterward. Nelson, seeing her tears, sprang out of the car and
hastened up the ragged walk to meet her.

"Janice!" he exclaimed and put his arm around her shoulders, stooping a
little to see into her face. "Don't cry, child! Is--is it dead?"

Janice nodded. Jim Narnay came to the door. His bloated, bearded face
was working with emotion. He saw the tenderness with which Nelson
Haley led the girl to the car.

The heavy tread of the man sounded behind the young folk as Nelson
helped Janice into the car, preparing himself to drive her home.

"I say--I say, Miss Janice," stammered Narnay.

She wiped her eyes and turned quickly, in sympathy, to the broken man.

"I will surely see Mr. Middler, Mr. Narnay. And tell your wife there
will be a few flowers sent down--and some other things. I--I know you
will remain and be--be helpful to her, Mr. Narnay?"

"Yes, I will, Miss," said Narnay. His bleared eyes gazed first on the
young girl and then on Haley. "I beg your pardon, Miss," he added.

"What is it, Mr. Narnay?" asked Janice.

"Mebbe I'd better tell it ter schoolmaster," said the man, his lips
working. He d