fallen forward, and on the snow a tiny stream of red was dripping
from her mouth. Quickly the man caught her and put his handkerchief
to her lips, and with equal swiftness he looked around. He could not
lay her on the snow, but she could no longer stand. The fear in his
face, the whiteness of hers, were plainly visible. I raised the
window.

"Bring her over here," I called. "I'll come down and help you."

In a flash I was out of the room and down the steps. Mrs. Mundy, who
had heard my hurried running, followed me to the door. "What is it?"
she asked. "What's the matter, Miss Dandridge?"

Opening the front door, I started down the steps, but already the
man, with the girl in his arms, was coming up them. "Go back," he
said, quietly, though his breath was quick and uneven. "Go back.
You'll get your feet wet."

With a swift movement Mrs. Mundy pushed me aside. "Mr. Guard?" Her
voice was questioning, uncertain; then she held out her arms. "The
poor child! Give her to me. Who is it? Why, it's--it's Lillie
Pierce!"

"Yes." The man's voice was low, and with a movement of his head his
hat fell on the floor. "It's Lillie Pierce. She has fainted. Where
shall I take her?"

"In here." Opening a door at the end of the hall, Mrs. Mundy
motioned Mr. Guard to enter. From the girl's mouth the blood was
still dripping, and on the collar of her coat was a big round splotch