, only I am afraid you--won't
like it," she said earnestly.

"My dear child, don't be afraid of me."

Chicken Little summoned up her resolution.

"I wanted to ask--to ask you, if you wouldn't adopt Sherm. You see he
looks like your little boy would have looked, and he hasn't got anybody
or any name, and he isn't going to want to live hardly, I am afraid. And
I thought.... You don't know how fine Sherm is. He's so honorable and
kind--so--so you can trust him. I just know you'd be proud of him after
a while."

Chicken Little was pleading with eyes and voice and trembling hands. The
Captain gazed at her a moment in astonishment, then he tenderly drew her
toward him.

"Chicken Little, I doubt if Sherm would agree to that. But if he is
willing, I should be proud and happy to call him my son. But don't get
your hopes up--I fear Sherm is too proud to let us find any such easy
solution of his troubles. But we'll find a way to put him on his feet,
you and I--we'll find a way, if it takes every cent I have!

"I think perhaps the first thing to do, Chicken Little," he continued
after some pondering, "is to try to find out something about Sherman's
real parentage. It hardly seems possible that a comfortably dressed
woman could have disappeared with her child without making some stir. I
am in hopes, by getting somebody to search through the files of two or
three of the leading New York newspapers immediately following the day
of the accident, we might secure a clue. I shall write to Mrs. Dart at
once for particulars, and then send to a man I know and pay him to make
a thorough investigation."

They were so interested discussing what could be done, that Sherm
entered the room before they knew he was awake. The boy was calm, but
looked years older, and very white and worn. Captain Clarke greeted him
cheerfully.

"I hope you rested. Jane tells me you had a staggering day yesterday.
Chicken Little, would you mind telling Wing to serve Sherm's breakfast?"

As soon as she disappeared, he gripped the boy's hand, saying
confidently, "I don't wish to talk about your trouble just now and I
have no words to comfort you for your loss, lad, but I want to tell you
not to begin to worry yet about your identity. I believe we shall find a
way to get track of your people and that you will find you have an
honorable name, and, possibly, a living father to make up a little for
the kind foster-father you have lost."

"I don't see how we cou