her father's words.

"He died from exhaustion as much as from any thing else. That man
Anderson had sent him word to go to Buffalo for 'news.' Believing the
message meant good news, that of locating the wife and child, Burlock
went, but not before he had legally made me guardian of the lost
daughter, and put in my charge the estate that had lately come directly
into his hands through the death of Mrs. Douglass. So the poor man
managed to settle his affairs before he was called away. He came back to
Dalton, sick and discouraged, and determined to put that man Andrew
Anderson in jail. But--well it was not to be. Ralph was with him all day
and all night. We did all we could to make it easier for him, and
Dorothy dear, he closed his eyes--blessing you!"

Dorothy was crying. She tried hard to be brave, but somehow the tears
would come--and she had to cry!

"There, there, daughter," said the major consolingly. "I did not want to
tell you just yet, but perhaps it is as well now as at any other time. I
knew you would be grieved."

"Of course--I am sorry--" sighed Dorothy, "but wasn't it splendid that
he had reformed!"

"Yes, and I must confess I was proud to hear a dying man bless your
name. He declared that you, a mere child, had saved him from a death of
shame. I never knew Dorothy, until Ralph told me there at his bedside,
that you had worked so hard to help in the crusade work, even speaking
to men like Burlock, when they might not have known how to answer you."