“Does Mrs. Ralston live here?” asked Larry, thinking he might have made a mistake. “She did, but she moved away yesterday,” was the answer. “Moved away?” “Yes, didn’t you hear? Her husband was killed in a street-car accident a few days ago, and after the funeral Mrs. Ralston said she could not afford to keep these rooms. So she moved away. I came in last night. Are you relatives of hers?” “I am her sister,” said Mrs. Dexter, and then, at the news of Mr. Ralston’s death, coming on top of all the other troubles, the poor woman burst into tears. CHAPTER III LOOKING FOR WORK “Now there, don’t you worry one mite,” said the woman who had come to the door. “I know jest how you feel. Come right in. We haven’t much room, but there’s only my husband, and he can sleep on the floor to-night. I’ll take care of you until you can find some place to stay. Bring the children in. Well, if there isn’t a little fellow who’s jest the image of my little Eddie that died,” and the good woman clasped James in her arms and hugged him tightly. “I’m afraid we’ll be too much trouble for you,” spoke Larry, seeing that his mother was too overcome to talk. “Not a bit of it,” was the hearty reply. “Come right along. I was jest gittin’ supper, an’ there’s plenty for all of you. Come in!” Confused and alarmed at the sudden news, and hardly knowing what she did, Mrs. Dexter entered the rooms where she had expected to find her sister. She was almost stunned by the many troubles coming all at once, and was glad enough to find any sort of temporary shelter. “I’m Mrs. Jackson,” the woman went on. “We’re a little upset, but I know you won’t mind that.” “No indeed,” replied Mrs. Dexter. “We are only too glad to come in.” The apartment, which consisted of four small rooms, was in considerable confusion. Chairs and tables stood in all sorts of positions, and there were two beds up. “We’ll manage somehow,” said Mrs. Jackson. “My goodness! The potatoes are burning!” and she ran to the kitchen, where supper was cooking. While she was busy over the meal her husband came in, and, though he was much surprised to see so many strangers in the house, he quickly welcomed them when his wife explained the circumstances. Supper was soon ready, and the travelers, except Mrs. Dexter, ate with good appetites. Then, after she had told something of her troubles it was decided that the two younger children should sleep in a bed with their mother. Lucy shared Mrs. Jackson’s room, and Larry and Mr. Jackson had beds made up on the floor in the parlor. “We’ll pretend we’re camping out,” said Mr. Jackson. “Did you ever camp, Larry?” “Sometimes, with the boys in Campton,” was the reply. “But we never stayed out all night.” “I have when I was a young man,” said Mr. Jackson. “I used to be quite fond of hunting.”