cheerily to the boy, learned that his name was "Jackie." A stick of
candy from Tom's pocket was greedily accepted by Jackie. Tom was
feeling blue that day thinking of his father from whom had come no
word, of his mother and sister, and his old home. He wandered on
unobservant of the fact that it was growing dark, and that a storm was
fast approaching. He was suddenly called to a sense of his
surroundings by hearing a cry behind him, and turning back saw that
little Jackie was dogging his footsteps.

The youngster was tired out now, and wanted "home and mother," so Tom
spoke a soothing word or two and they commenced to retrace their
footsteps. He noted now that the storm was soon to break, and Jackie
was too tired to hurry, so he gathered the little fellow into his
strong arms, and made fast time for home.

By the time they had reached the apple tree it was quite dark. Large
drops of rain, the roar of thunder, and the glare of lightning told
Tom that he was none too soon. He ran through the unkempt garden, and
was quickly at the door. A sinister looking place it was even in
daylight, and now revealed by an occasional lightning flash, the house
seemed but a wreck of former stateliness. Not a light was visible
within, and to Tom's loud and hurried rappings on the door, there was
no response.

A flash of lightning however, showed Tom that the door was unlatched,
and with the rain now descending in torrents, he hesitated no longer,
but stepped within. There was a rush of wind, a rattle of shutters, a
deafening peal of thunder as if close at hand, and with a crash the
great door suddenly closed.