“Dear God,” he sobbed, “I am alone, a poor little hunchback boy. I never hurt nobody in my life. I wouldn’t hurt nobody if I could. Dear God, Frank says you know everything, see everything, and are good and kind to every one. I know what Frank says is true, for he couldn’t say anything that is not true. Please, God, don’t let the bad men take me away from Frank. If they do I shall die! Frank is the only one in the whole world who has ever been kind to me. I love him, dear God, and so won’t you please, please let him find me again! Amen!” Even as he uttered the final word there came a sound at the door. He leaped to his feet, shaking with excitement, his heart filled with the belief that somehow his prayer had been answered thus quickly. The door opened. Abe fell back with a little gasp of disappointment, for into the room stepped a masked man who carried a lighted lamp in his hand. This man closed the door behind him and stood with his back against it, the lamp held high, while he stared through the twin holes of the mask at the cowering hunchback. There were some moments of silence. The man with the lamp was first to speak. “What’s your name?” he asked. “It’s Abe, sir—only Abe.” “Is that all the name you know?” came the harsh, cold voice from beyond the mask. “That’s all, sir.” “Don’t lie to me, boy! Tell me the truth!” “I am not lying. Frank says it is wicked to lie.” “Where were you born?” “I don’t know.” “See here, boy, I want you to tell me all you know about yourself. It’s the best thing you can do. If you don’t know where you were born, at least you do know where you have lived.” “Always, until Frank found me, I lived down in Camp Broncho.” “That’s in Arizona, is it?” “I think so.” “How did you come to be in Camp Broncho? Who left you there?” “Oh, I can’t remember much about it. Once there was a man named Black Dorson, and I used to play the fiddle for him and get money for him, and he beat me; but one night he was shot, and after that I lived the best way I could.” The masked man advanced into the room and placed the lamp on a small table. “You don’t remember anything about yourself before you lived with Black Dorson?” “I don’t seem to remember much. Sometimes I almost remember, but it is like a dream.” “What is it you almost remember?” “Oh, I can’t tell! I can’t tell! It is all confused! I think it must be a dream, for I know it cannot be true. It seems that once I had a home and was not a little miserable hunchback that everybody kicked and cursed.” Again the man stood still some moments, staring at the boy. “What are you going to do with me?” asked Abe. “Are you going to kill me?” “It may be true!” he muttered. “I believe he looks like her!” Then he suddenly commanded: “Boy, take off your coat!” “What for?” panted Abe. “What are you going to do?” “Take off your coat! Don’t be scared. I am not going to hurt you.” Realizing the folly of refusing to obey, the boy pulled off his coat as directed.