rwood, he's had a stroke and is as
helpless as a baby, sir, and Mrs. Dean's alone, excepting for us
servants. She sent me for you, sir; here's a note from her, and she said
you was to ride right back with me, if you would, sir."

"Certainly, I'll go with you," Darrell answered, taking the note; "but
that horse must not stand in the cold another minute. Ride right over
into the stables yonder; wake up the stable-men and tell them to rub him
down and blanket him at once, and then to saddle Trix and Rob Roy as
quickly as they can. And while they're looking after the horses, you go
over to the boarding-house and wake up the cook and tell him to get us
up a good, substantial hand-out; we'll need it before morning. I'll be
ready in a few minutes, and I'll meet you over there."

"All right, sir," Bennett responded, starting in the direction of the
stables, while Darrell went back into his room. Opening the note, he
read the following:

"MY DEAR JOHN: I am in trouble and look to you as to a son. David
has had a paralytic stroke; was brought home helpless about five
o'clock. I am alone, as you might say, as there is none of the
family here. Will you come at once?

Yours in sorrow, but with love,
MARCIA DEAN."

Darrell's face grew thoughtful as he refolded the missive. He glanced
regretfully at his notes and manuscript, then carefully gathered them
together and locked them in his desk, little thinking that months would
pass ere he would again resume the work thus interrupted. Then only
stopping long enough to write a few lines of explanation to Hathaway,
the superintendent, he seized his fur coat, cap, and gloves, and
hastened over to the boarding-house where a lunch was already awaiting
him. Half an hour later he and Bennett were riding rapidly down the
road, Duke bounding on ahead.

They reached The Pines between four and five o'clock. Darrell, leaving
the horses in Bennett's care, went directly to the house. Before he
could reach the door it was opened by Mrs. Dean.

"I ought not to have sent for you on such a night as this!" she
exclaimed, as Darrell entered the room, his clothes glistening with
frost, the broad collar turned up about his face a mass of icicles from
his frozen breath; "but I felt as though I didn't know what to do, and I
wanted some one here who did. I was afraid to take the responsibility
any longer