AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE.
The door of the sitting room was opened quickly, and two boys dashed into the room. They were Edward Granger and Chester Rand.
Abner Trimble turned pale and uttered an imprecation. All his plans, so carefully laid, were menaced with ignominious defeat.
Floyd looked up in surprise, but did not comprehend the situation. In spite of the positive testimony he had given he did not even know Edward Granger by sight.
Mrs. Trimble uttered a wild cry, but her face lighted up with supreme joy.
“Edward!” she exclaimed, and half rising, opened her arms.
Her son sprang forward and embraced his mother.
“Oh, Edward!” she murmured, “are you really alive?”
“Very much alive, mother,” answered Edward, with a smile.
“And I was mourning you as dead! I thought I should never see you again.”