then?"

"Knew her? She was the only one who cried when I told them I
would not teach school any more. She gave me a present once--a
woeful, comical Christmas present, a big, clean-washed, smooth
potato. That was all she had to give, and she had tied colored
strips of tissue paper about it to make it good enough."

Miss Eastman inquired about other children, one by one, as though
calling the roll. At first he evaded her questioning, giving such
vague and equivocal replies that presently she clearly understood
the situation.

"It is epidemic," she said, "and you have been keeping this from
me. How long since it began?"

"The worst is over," he answered, with something of the old
heartiness that made the sick take courage even in their hour of
darkest trial. But he was reluctant to talk much of conditions
in Duck Town; and presently, during a lull in the conversation,
Miss Eastman laid the pieces of the broken miniature on the table
before him.

"Was this David's mother?" she asked.

As the man took up the two parts of the broken portrait he
glanced apprehensively toward the top of his desk. The picture
which used to stand there was gone.

"Where did you get this?" he questioned.

"As soon as they get into trousers they get into mischief," she
replied, and again she asked whether that was a picture of the
little boy's mother.

With gentle fingers Dr. Redfield fitted the parts of the picture
together, sorrowfully shook his head over them, and then, as a
wan smile creased his tired face, he said:--

"David asked me if she was _my_ mother. Has the little rogue been
claiming her for _his_?"

Miss Eastman slowly answered: "She does look a little like--"

"Yes," the doctor interrupted, "more than that, I should
say--more than a little like David's mother. From the first time
I saw that poor dear woman I thought so, and yet I was never
quite sure that my fancy had not created the resemblance. It was
an unaccountable likeness, and yet so strong a one that it meant
much, very much to me."

"I must take this home again," she said, "for to-morrow David is
to bring it back to you. He must tell you all about it--how he
got into trouble. We shall come early in the morning, and he will
stay here with Mrs. Botz, while I go with you."

"Go with me?" The bushy eyebrows of Dr. Redfield raised with
inquiring astonishment.

"You cannot go on forever like this," she replied. "You must let
others help. I think I can be rat