she stood naked. Forgotten the wreck, the desolation everywhere.

"Oh--thank Heaven!" gasped she.

There, in that inner office, half-rising from the wrack of many things
that had been and were now no more, her startled eyes beheld the
figure of a man--of Allan Stern!

He lived!

At her he peered with eyes that saw not, yet; toward her he groped a
vague, unsteady hand.

He lived!

Not quite alone in this world-ruin, not all alone was she!



CHAPTER II

REALIZATION


The joy in Beatrice's eyes gave way to poignant wonder as she
gazed on him. Could this be _he?_

Yes, well she knew it was. She recognized him even through the
grotesquery of his clinging rags, even behind the mask of a long, red,
dusty beard and formidable mustache, even despite the wild and staring