re being gathered up. Emville
matrons, just over their own hours of terror, were murmuring about
gowns, about beds, about food: "Lots of room--well, thank God for
that--you're all safe, anyway!" "Yes, indeed; that's the only thing
that counts!" "Well, bless his heart, we'll tell him some day that when
he was a baby--" Molly caught scraps of their talk, their shaken
laughter, their tears; but there was no news of Belle--of Timmy--

"Belle is a splendid, strong country girl, you know, dear," Jerry said.
"Belle would be equal to any emergency!"

"Of course," Molly heard herself say.

Jerry presently came in from one of his trips to draw a chair close to
his wife's and tell her that he had seen Miss Carter.

"Or, at least, I've seen her mother," said Jerry, laying a restraining
hand upon Molly, who sat bolt upright, her breast heaving
painfully--"for she herself is feverish and hysterical, dear. It seems
that she left--Now, my darling, you must be quiet."

"I'm all right, Jerry. Go on! Go on!"

"She says that Hong and Little Hong managed to get away early in the
evening for help. She didn't leave until about midnight, and Belle and
the boy were all right then--"

"Oh, my God!" cried poor Molly.

"Molly, dear, you make it harder."

"Yes, I know." Her penitent hot hand touched his own. "I know,
dear--I'm sorry."

"That's all, dear. The water wasn't very high then. Belle wouldn't
leave Timmy-" Jerry Tressady jumped suddenly to his feet and went to
stare out the window with unseeing eyes. "Miss Carter didn't get into
town here until after daylight," he resumed, "and the mother, poor
soul, is wild with fright over her; but she's all right. Now, Molly,
there's a barge going up as far as Rising Water at four. They say the
bungalow is still cut off, probably, but they'll take us as near as
they can. I'm going, and this Rogers--Belle's friend--will go, too."

"What do you think, Jerry?" she besought him, agonized.

"My darling, I don't know what to think."

"Were--were many lives lost, Jerry?"

"A few, dear."

"Jerry,"--Molly's burning eyes searched his,--"I'm sane now. I'm not
going to faint again; but--but--after little Jerry--I couldn't bear it
and live!"

"God sent us strength for that, Molly."

"Yes, I know!" she said, and burst into bitter tears.

It had been arranged that Molly should wait at the hotel for the return
of the barge; but Jerry was not very much surprised, upon going on
board, to find her