“I’ll be ruined! ruined!” exploded the old man.
He rose totteringly to his feet. Janice saw the change in his face and was frightened. She was afraid the Elder was going to be ill, and she was not sure that there was anybody else in the house. She had not sat down, and she sprang forward to steady him.
“You can’t help me, girl,” he said. “’Tain’t that kind of help I need. If I get that money tied up I shall be ruined—ruined! I’ve got too many eggs in the one basket—and that basket just now is the Middletown Trust Company.”
“But go get it out!” cried Janice.
“I couldn’t get there in time. My horses would never get me there.”
“Isn’t my car here? I’ll get you there in an hour—in less time,” urged Janice. “That’s what I came for. I came to help you get your money. It would have been nothing to tell you about it, if I could not give you practical aid.”
“My goodness, girl! in that devil wagon?”
“I don’t think you ought to call it that,” said Janice, softly. “I carried little Buddy Trimmins to the doctor in it, and saved his life. God helped me get him there in time,” said Janice, her eyes filling with tears. “I am sure He will help me to save your money that you need.”
“Go on, girl!” said the old man, huskily. “I’ll get my coat and hat. But to get to Middletown in an hour!”
“We’ll do it in less than that if all goes right,” cried the girl, and ran out to turn the machine about.