The little boy was lying on his face, with his arm around his father's neck, talking to him. Whispering Smith bent a moment over the bed, and, setting the candle on the table, put his hand on the boy's shoulder. He disengaged the hand from the cold neck, and sitting down took it in his own. Talking low to the little fellow, he got his attention after much patient effort and got him to speak. He made him, though struggling with terror, to understand that he had come to be his friend, and after the child had sobbed his grief into a strange heart he ceased to tremble, and told his name and his story, and described the two horsemen and the horses they had left. Smith listened quietly. "Have you had any supper, Dannie? No? You must have something to eat. Can't you eat anything? But there is a nice pan of fresh milk in the kitchen." A burst of tears interrupted him. "Daddie just brought in the milk, and I was frying the ham, and I heard them shooting." "See how he took care of you till the last minute, and left something for you after he was gone. Suppose he could speak now, don't you think he would want you to do as I say? I am your next friend now, for you are going to be a railroad man and have a big engine." Dannie looked up. "Dad wasn't afraid of those men." "Wasn't he, Dannie?" "He said we would be all right and not to be afraid." "Did he?" "He said Whispering Smith was coming." "My poor boy." "He is coming, don't be afraid. Do you know Whispering Smith? He is coming. The men to-night all said he was coming." The little fellow for a long time could not be coaxed away from his father, but his companion at length got him to the kitchen. When they came back to the bedroom the strange man was talking to him once more about his father. "We must try to think how he would like things done now, mustn't we? All of us felt so bad when we rode in and had so much to do we couldn't attend to taking care of your father. Did you know there are two men out at the crossing now, guarding it with rifles? But if you and I keep real quiet we can do something for him while the men are asleep; they have to ride all day to-morrow. We must wash his face and hands, don't you think so? And brush his hair and his beard. If you could just find the basin and some water and a towel--you couldn't find a brush, could you? Could you, honestly? Well! I call that a good boy--we shall have to have you on the railroad, sure. We must try to find some fresh clothes--these are cut and stained; then I will change his clothes, and we shall all feel better. Don't disturb the men; they are tired."