"For Jasper Kent," said the boy. "Will you call him?"
"I am he," said Jasper, hurrying forward, with pale face and beating heart, for a telegram always inspires fear.
"Then here it is. Just sign the book," said the boy.
Jasper scrawled his name hurriedly and tore open the envelope.
These were the brief words of the dispatch:
"Come home, for the Lord's sake, Master Jasper. Your father's dying.
"Margaret Bower."
The paper swam before Jasper's eyes.
"What is it, Jasper—bad news?" asked Wilder; but Jasper did not wait to answer. He rushed to Dr. Benton's office, got his permission to go home, packed his valise, and in five minutes was on his way to the depot.
He was just in time for the afternoon train. At seven o'clock in the evening he entered the avenue that led to his father's house. Throwing open the front door, he met Margaret in the hall.