een a fire of this magnitude that
has not absolutely ruined many of the smaller companies. It takes
either a very strong or a very conservative insurance company to
weather a great conflagration. After each of our big city fires in
this country many and many a company has found that after it paid its
losses there would be nothing left to carry it to further
existence--capital and surplus were both wiped out. And it must be
said to their credit that most of them, at a time like this, pay every
cent they owe, even if they have to go out of business directly
afterwards."

"But if they haven't enough money to pay their losses? Suppose their
capital and surplus isn't sufficient?"

"Then they either fail, and the receiver pays what he can to each
claimant, or else they call upon their stockholders--assess them. Once
in a while you will find a company refusing to pay, on the ground that
so great a calamity is an act of God, which no indemnity was ever
designed or intended to cover. Quite a few foreign companies took this
stand after the San Francisco earthquake-fire; but the leading
companies, American and foreign, paid dollar for dollar. The smaller
fry tried to compromise a bit; but most of them eventually made pretty
fair settlements, in the main. We'll see what they'll do in Boston."

"After the fire is out."

"Yes; and I really must go now, for I'm very anxious to see how they're
handling it."

"It was very good of you to come."

"I'll come again, if there is anything of consequence to report. I'm
certain you'll be all right here. You haven't worried too much, have
you?"

"Well, the waiting has been pretty bad," the girl confessed.

"Then don't worry any more, either of you, for if there should be the
slightest danger, I'll come back at once."

Helen hesitated a moment.

"Mr. Smith promised to come and 'save us,' if we needed saving," she
said, with the merest trace of a flush.

"Ah," replied her uncle, slowly. "Then I think we may safely leave
your rescue to him. I will come as a reporter only. Good-by."

From the time of his departure there had been no visitor from the
outside world until Smith's ring came as the clock made ready to strike
nine. Helen herself opened the door, as the maid had gone downstairs
for further enlightenment from the authorities below; and Miss Maitland
found herself confronted by a man whom at first she hardly recognized,
so hollow-eyed, so weary, and withal so gri