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"But this ----"

"Pshaw! He's likely home and dry by this time--all foolishness; don't be

an old wo to

Minnie's hand on the sofa She looked up at them quickly

"Do you think--do you--what do you--" Her voice shook so that she could

not go on

The judge pinched her cheek and patted it "I think he's hoot wet first; that's what I think Never you fear, he's a good

hand at taking care of hio for a while"

Nor could he It was long before he could venture out; the stored and

roared without abateentlereat limbs crack and break outside, while

the thunder boomed and the wind ripped at the eaves till it seey, lit his pipe and

told long stories of the storms of early days and of odd freaks of the

wind He talked on cals above his

head, but Helen saw that one of his big slippers beat an unceasing little

tattoo on the carpet She sat with fixed eyes, in silence, holding

Minnie's hand tightly; and her face was colorless, and grehiter as the

slow hours dragged by