"But oh, Jack, if you hadn't been! And no one would ever have known who caused the wreck! Every one would have thought it was my fault!" "I know three people who wouldn't!" protested Jack. "Their names is Mary, Mamie, an' Jack Welsh!" "Nonsense, Jack," said Allan, laughing, though his eyes were bright with tears. "Why, I'd have thought so myself!" "There's th' train," broke in Jack, hastily. "See ye in th' mornin'," and tearing himself away, he followed Mr. Schofield down the steps. Allan, watching from the door, saw them jump aboard the caboose before it had fairly stopped. The trainmaster exchanged a word with the conductor, who swung far out and waved his lantern to the engineer; and as Allan lowered the signal to show a clear track, the train gathered way again and sped westward into the night, toward Wadsworth. He watched it until the tail lights disappeared in the darkness, then he turned back into the little room and sat down before his key, his heart filled with thanksgiving. The dispatcher at headquarters, calling Byers Junction to send a message to the trainmaster, soon found out that he was aboard the freight, and in consequence that fortunate train was given a clear track, and covered the twenty-eight miles to Wadsworth in forty-five minutes. One o'clock was striking as Jack Welsh climbed the steep flight of steps that led to his front door. At the top, he found a shawled figure waiting. "Why, Mary," said he, "you'll be ruinin' your health, me darlint, stayin' up so late." "Yes," she retorted, "an' I'll be goin' crazy, worritin' about ye. Where've ye been, Jack Welsh?" "Niver ye mind. Is my supper ready?" "Supper? Ye mane breakfast, don't ye?" "Call it what ye like, so it's fillin'. Fer I've got an awful emptiness inside me. Didn't I send ye word by Dan Breen that I'd be a little late?" "An' do ye call one o'clock in th' mornin' a little late?" she queried, with irony. "Well," said Jack, tranquilly, walking on through toward the kitchen, "that depends on how ye look at it. Some folks might call it a little early." A lamp was burning on the kitchen table, and as Jack came within its circle of light, Mary, who was close behind, saw for the first time the condition of his clothes. "Jack!" she screamed, and rushed up to him, and then she saw the piece of court-plaster on his forehead, as well as the various minor bumps and contusions which he had received. "Have ye been fightin'?" she demanded, sternly. "Yes, darlint," answered Jack, cheerfully. "An' got hurted?" and she touched the wound tenderly. "Only a scratch, Mary; ye ought t' see th' other felly." "Who was he, Jack?" "His name's Nevins--but ye don't know him." "Tell me about it," she commanded, her eyes blazing. "All about it!"