“Ready for the feast. The coffee is cooked, and the biscuits will be done in four minutes.”
“Wait,” said Frank. “I want to slip out to the street for something. I will be back directly.”
He seized his hat and went out. At the corner he passed a man who was standing back in the deep shadow. He did not pay any attention to the man.
At a fruit store Frank purchased some oranges and bananas. With them he hurried back.
The man near the corner slunk deep into a doorway as he passed, and then stepped out and followed him lightly.
“Here we are!” cried Frank, gayly, as he deposited the fruit on the table. “To-night we will have a treat.”
Everything was ready, and they sat down. Little Nell folded her hands and asked a blessing, while Frank and Jack bowed their heads. Jack started to pour the coffee. All at once he stopped and stared at his sister.
“Gracious, Nellie!” he cried. “You never looked so much like mother before! Why, somehow you look just like her as you sit there at that end of the table. You should have seen her, Frank. She was a beautiful woman.”
“Get her picture,” said the girl—“get it and show it to him.”
Jack sat down the coffee pot and hopped away into the other room. He quickly returned with a photograph, which he gave to Frank.