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"Will he die?" she whispered, in awe-stricken tones. "Maudlin's dyin'," replied the cobbler, with bowed head, "an' Mr. King's awful bad off, the doctor says." Jinnie went to Lafe's side and put her arm about his neck, and as if it had never been, their joy was blotted out by the hand of a bloody tragedy. Tearing away from Paradise Road, Jordan Morse drove madly up the hill.
"Lafe's Bible?" asked Bobbie, scarcely audible. "Sure! There isn't but one." "Yes, Jinnie, I believe that," said the boy. "Well," and Jinnie glanced up at the ceiling, "there's just about a hundred pages in that book tells how once some men tried to put a cobbler in one of those chairs, and the lightning jumped out and set 'em all on fire "
Jinnie pulled aside her jacket. "No, but he's breathing awful hard. It hurts him to try to live. I want to get home quick so Peggy can do something for him." "I'll hurry, then," replied Mr. King, and when he saw Lafe's face in the window, he again addressed her: "You'd better try to smile a little, Miss Jinnie, or your uncle'll be frightened."
The world of which Theodore King had been the integral part was dead to her. What was she to do without him, without Bobbie to pet and love? But a feeling of thanksgiving pervaded her when she remembered she still had Lafe's smile, the baby to croon over, and dear, stoical Peggy. They would live with her in the old home.
"I'd better carry you a while, dearie," she offered presently, noting with what difficulty he breathed. "You take the fiddle!" And without remonstrance from the boy she lifted him in her arms. From the tracks Lafe's small house had the appearance of being unoccupied. Jinnie went in, walking from the shop to the kitchen, where she called "Peggy!" two or three times.
Fully and freely she told him all all that had happened that day. She explained Molly's recognition of her and the terrors of the afternoon's ride. "She hates barn-cats," went on the girl, "and, Lafe, when the wheels gritted over him, I flew right out on the ground." Lafe's arms tightened about her. "You just couldn't help it," he murmured. "God bless my little girl!" "Then Mr.
The onlookers saw Lafe's unsteady steps as he tottered toward the lovely girl and blind child. When he was within touching distance, she put the instrument and bow under one arm and took Lafe's hand in hers. Her voice rang out like the tone of a bell. "I've come for you, Lafe. I've come to take you back." Then Molly's eyes dropped from Jinnie to the boy, and a cry broke from her.
Grandoken, looking from one to the other, noticed Lafe's gravity and signs of Jinnie's tears. "What's the matter?" she inquired. Lafe told her quietly, and finished with his hand on Jinnie's head. "Our little helper ought to have some fun, Peggy." Jinnie glanced up. What would Peggy think? But for a few minutes Peg didn't tell them. Then she said: "She ought a went, I think, Lafe."
"I'll lie down with you, Bobbie," she whispered, "and Happy Pete can sleep on the foot of the bed." And as the pair of sad little souls slept, Lafe's angels kept guard over them. Theodore King was rallying rapidly in the hospital.
Tense throat muscles caught and clung together, choking back her breath until she lay down, full length, upon the cobbler's bench. In poignant grief she thought of the expression of Lafe's face when he had been wheeled from the room. His voice came back through the faint light. "He has given His angels charge over thee, lassie."
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