The City of Fire

to the church chimes, and the night shift which had been working overtime on account of a consignment of toma

pon a crippled car, coughing and crawling toward them in front of the Graveyard. Its driver, much sobered by lack of

helping if this proved to be "the right guy," halted and stepped into the ro

m remarked affably, as if

" added Tom, punchin

to anger the driver,

s your

age," said Jim pleasantly, with

garage! What town is thi

th Volley! Shorely ye've

from what I've seen of it so far I should say it ought to be cal

a meditative air, stooping to examine the spokes of a

utward gravity. The stranger eyed the two malevolently, helpl

?" he asked, thrusting his hand into his

turned indifferently away and stepped back to the

e! It's the Sawbeth, an' this is Sawbeth Volley! We don't wurru

. There was something almost uncanny about it that held the stranger still, as if an unseen presence with a convincing voice had been invoked. The young man sat under th

t, the Scotchman's hand went slowly down,

I can go to get fixed up? I'v

loight's still burnin' in the windo next beyant the tchurtch, so ye'll not be disturbin' him. Not that he'd moind. He'll fix ye up ef anybody

nthankful way. The two workmen watching him with amused expressions, waited in the shadow of a tree till the car ca

lapping his companion silently on the b

worms of the dust whut comes in thur wy. But Jim, mon, we better be steppin' on, fer tomorra's the Sawbeth ya ken, an' it wuddent be gude for our souls if the parson shud cum out to i

. He had finished his preparation for the coming day, and his heart was full of a great longing. As he poured out his desir

hat was needing him. It was not an unusual thing for a knock to come interrupting his midnight devotion

od of the porch light his face was illumined, and behind him the pretty living room gave a sweet homely setting. The stranger stood

st as if "Parsons" were at fault t

call anyone of that name hereabouts. Perhaps you are

id you were, and that you could fix me up. They said right next the church

ce cleared

on,' they often call me that.

him coldly and ma

out and look at my car. It seems to be in bad shape, and be quick about it. I've got over two hundr

is eyes and lips much like the smile that Tom MacMertrie had worn, only th

moment till I

o go Shafton c

nything to drink? I'm

instant hospita

ve? Water or milk

on looked at him in

he thundered, "but don't stand there all

a shade of coolness in the voice, as the clear comprehension of he

eared through a swingin

e to near consciousness and wondered what ki

ng how near he was to the end of his detour, and then he started in pursuit of his man, tramping through the Severn house as if it were a public garage, and almost running into the

nd indeed there was something about Graham Severn that was worth looking at. Tall and well built, with a face at once strong and sweet, and with a certain

y because he did not know enough of the world to understand what it was he wanted, or because he was playing a joke. As he looked into those eyes and noted with his half befuddled sen

e hot strong coffee he followed this strange new kind of a man out to the car in the moonlight, paying little heed to the care

minister str

any miles to-night. You've

gentleman pausing before

give you a bed and take care of you over to-morrow, and perhaps Sandy McPherson can fix you up Monday

ont of the parsonage and let forth such a stream of choice language as had not been heard in that lo

t will be ab

it. His jaw dropped, and he could not utter the words he had been about to speak. This was insufferable-! But there was that raised hand. It seemed like some one not of this world quite. He wasn't afraid, because it wasn't in him to be afraid. That was his pose, not afraid of those he considered his inferiors, and he did not consider that anyone was his superior. But somehow this was something new in his experience. A man like this! It was almost as if his mere being there demanded a certain homage. It was queer. The young man passed a hand over his hot forehead and tried to think. Then the minister's voi

ut there are no trains to-night, not even twenty miles away until six in the morning. There are only four cars owned in the village. Two are gone off on a summer trip, the

more, and strangely enough closed it again: S

"that a young man who was visiting his mother to-day may still

minister back to the house and listened anxio

There is some one here in trouble, needing to be taken to Monopoly. I was sure Mark would help him out if possible. Yes, please, if he comes soon, ask him to call me

emed to search him through. He dashed out the screen door, letting it slam behind him, and down the steps, intending to make his car go on at all odds unti

ep trying for footing, but he was too near the edge, and he went down straight into a little rocky nook where ferns and violets were growing, and a sharp jagged rock stuck up and bit him viciously as he slid and struggled for a firm footing ag

like meeting God out on the road somewhere. The minister stooped and picked him up, lightly, as if he had been a feather, and carried him like a baby, thrown partl

, and then he asked a few questions in a quiet voice. "What happened? Was it your ankle? Here? Or here? All right. Just be patient a minute, I'll have you al

and bottle, and seemed to know just how

up with cool sheets, and the swollen ankle comfortably bandaged with cool wet cloths. Outside in the moonlig