At the Time Appointed

As the train slackened speed Parkinson, with a few words to the

physician, hastily left to make arrangements for transportation for

himself, Hunter, and Darrell to a hotel. Amid the noise and confusion

which ensued for the next ten minutes Darrell slept heavily, till,

roused by a gentle shake, he awoke to find the physician bending over

him and heard voices approaching down the now nearly deserted

sleeping-car.

"Yes," said a heavy voice, speaking rapidly, "the conductor wired

details; he said this young man did everything for the boy that could be

done, and stayed by him to the end."

"He did; he stood by him like a brother," Parkinson's voice replied.

"And he is sick, you say? Well, he won't want for anything within my

power to do for him, that's all!"

Parkinson stopped at Darrell's side. "Mr. Darrell," he said, "this is

Mr. Underwood, Whitcomb's uncle, you know; Mr. Underwood, Mr. Darrell."

Darrell rose a little unsteadily; the two men grasped hands and for an

instant neither spoke. Darrell saw before him a tall, powerfully built

man, approaching fifty, whose somewhat bronzed face, shrewd, stern, and

unreadable, was lighted by a pair of blue eyes which once had resembled

Whitcomb's. With a swift, penetrating glance the elder man looked

searchingly into the face of the younger.

"True as steel, with a heart of gold!" was his mental comment; then he

spoke abruptly, and his voice sounded brusque though his face was

working with emotion.

"Mr. Darrell, my carriage is waiting for you outside. You will go home

with me, unless," he added, inquiringly, "you are expecting to meet

friends or acquaintances?"

"No, Mr. Underwood," Darrell replied, "I am a stranger here, but, much

as I appreciate your kindness, I could not think of intruding upon your

home at such a time as this."

"Porter," said Mr. Underwood, with the air of one accustomed to command,

"take this gentleman's luggage outside, and tell them out there that it

is to go to 'The Pines;' my men are there and they will look after it;"

then, turning to Darrell, he continued, still more brusquely: "This train pulls out in three minutes, so you had better prepare to

follow your luggage. You don't stop in Ophir outside of my house, and I

don't think you'll travel much farther for a while. You look as though

you needed a bed and good nursing more than anything else just now."

"I have given him a prescription, sir," said the physician, "that I

think will set him right if he gets needed rest and sleep."

"Humph!" responded Mr. Underwood, gruffly; "he'll get whatever he needs,

you can depend on that. You gentlemen assist him out of the car; I'll go

and despatch a messenger to the house to have everything in readiness

for him there."