"Do you know who was saved from the wreck?"
"Saved? No one was saved."
"You are mistaken—a lady and her child were saved. The lady died two days later, but the child still lives."
"What was the name of that lady? Tell me, quick?" gasped the officer, and tried to sit up, but fell back through weakness.
"Do not excite yourself, Colonel Stanton, I beg of you!" pleaded Mrs. Ruthven, in alarm, fearful of the patient's agitation.
"But tell me the name of that lady—and was the child a boy?"
"I do not know the name of the lady, for she was badly hurt and could not give it. The boy's name was Jack."
"Jack! My child's name was Jack. And you say he still lives?"
"He does. The child is our Jack, for my husband and I adopted him."
"Your Jack? That fine, manly fellow? Oh, Mrs. Ruthven, send him to me at once!"