And how did the match go on? Did you win?'

'Roger, from that day to this, I have never tried to remember how that
game ended. At the end, two of the fellows who lived the other side of
the town asked me home to tea with the rest of the team. I felt it hard
to be the only one who was out of everything, so I went. I felt a little
uncomfortable, and called at the doctor's, just to satisfy my mother,
and he came into the hall to speak to me.

'"Anything wrong, my boy? Not Phyllis, I hope?" he said. Phyllis was a
pet of his. He attended her pretty often.

'"Just a cold, sir," I said, easily; "nothing serious. Mother's
fidgeting, and says she is feverish, and all that. You might call round
some time."

'"I will come with you at once," said Dr. Harris, and he took his hat
off the peg. I thought he was glad of my company, and gave him a vivid
account of the match on the way.

'When we reached our street the hall was dark, and there was no light in
the little front sitting-room. But the bedroom overhead was lighted, and
the blind was pushed back as we reached the door. The next thing I saw
was my mother's face. Shall I ever forget it?'

'Don't tell it, Uncle,' said Roger. 'I can guess.'

'She had been waiting for the doctor. It never occurred to her that I
would neglect her message. They let me see my sister for a few minutes,
before she died. A few hours, the doctor said, might have saved her
life. There! that's all!'

Uncle James blew his nose vigorously, and went back to his paper; but
Roger bent his head over his plate. At this point his mother came in.
The boy jumped up impetuously.

'Mother dear, I am awfully sorry I broke my promise, I will never do it
again, if I can help it--never, so long as I live!'

THE GIANT OF THE TREASURE CAVES.

(_Continued from page 359._)

They walked up the avenue, with Estelle between them, and Lord Lynwood
received some answers to his many questions. He thought it was more of a
help to talk about things which took Jack's mind off his trouble, than
to dwell on it, and unnerve him for the interview. He wished also to
show that he had the greatest respect for a man who could go manfully
through the ordeal to which poor Jack had pledged himself. At the end of
the avenue, just before it widened into the broad sweep in front of the
Moat House, was an opening in the thick laurel and rhododendron
shrubbery, which, as they passed it, enabled Estelle to see that Aunt
Betty--th