Before it seemed possible that an hour had gone they heard a vehicle drive up to the side gate.
The carriage stopped for several minutes, then rattled away over the hard ground, and presently the judge re-entered the room.
"Ugh! This is a tough night. Fire feels good," and he rubbed his hands briskly.
"I brought home company, girls. Not exactly the reformer Vivian was speaking of; perhaps someone to reform."
"What do you mean?"
"Whom have you found?"
"I think I may be able to explain what I mean, but until the girl thaws out a little we will not know who she is," said the judge mysteriously.
"What in the world do you mean, father? But tell us about it."
"Well, as usual on a night of this sort, there was a missing man. The search for him took me a couple of blocks out of my way and in coming back I passed a saloon of a low order and found the girl lying in the sleet. I thought more than likely she was drunk, and stepped into the saloon to advise them to look after their productions. Here I found her father in a state of beastly intoxication and learned that she had been there, a short time before, begging him to go home with her to a sick wife and some hungry children, but I could not find out where this home was. Just as I left the saloon a cab came along, and I had the driver put the girl in it. This is all. Where are you going, Jean?"
"Going to see the object of your charity."