d told him all
about the old man, and my rush to the rescue. I gave a very animated
description of the scene, but, finding that Jack did not evince any
particular interest, I cut it all short.

"Well," said I, "I won't bore you. I'll merely state the leading facts.
I got the old fellow out. He took my arm, and insisted on my going home
with him. I went home, and found there the Lady of the Ice."

"Odd, too," said Jack, languidly, puffing out a long stream of smoke;
"don't see how you recognized her--thought you didn't remember and all
that. So you've found her at last, have you? Well, my dear fellow, 'low
me to congratulate you. Deuced queer, too. By-the-way, what did you say
her name was?"

"I didn't mention her name," said I.

"Ah, I see; a secret?"

"Oh, no. I didn't suppose you'd care about knowing."

"Bosh! Course I'd care. What was it, old boy? Tell a fellow. I'll keep
dark--you know me."

"Her name," said I, "is Miss O'Halloran."

No sooner had I uttered that name, than an instantaneous and most
astonishing change came over the whole face, the whole air, the whole
manner, the whole expression, the whole attitude, of Jack Randolph. He
sprang up to his feet, as though he had been shot, and the pipe fell
from his hands on the floor, where it lay smashed.

"WHAT!!!" he cried, in a loud voice.

"Look here," said I--"what may be the meaning of all that? What's the
row now?"

"What name did you say?" he repeated.

"Miss O'Halloran," said I.

"O'Halloran?" said he--"are you sure?"

"Of course, I'm sure. How can I be mistaken?"

"And her father--what sort of man is he?"

"A fine old felloe," said I--"full of fun, well informed, convivial,
age about sixty, well preserved, splendid face--"

"Is--is he an Irishman?" asked Jack, with deep emotion.

"Yes."

"Does--does he live in--in Queen Street?" asked Jack, with gasp.

"The very street," said I.

"Number seven hundred and ninety-nine?"

"The very number. But see here, old chap, how the mischief do you
happen to know exactly all about that house? It strikes me as being
deuced odd."

"And you saved her?" said Jack, without taking any notice of my
question.

"Haven't I just told you so? Oh, bother! What's the use of all this
fuss?"

"Miss O'Halloran?" said Jack.

"Miss O'Halloran," I repeated. "But will you allow me to ask what in
the name of common-sense is the matter with you? Is there a bee in your
bonnet, man? What's Miss O'Halloran to