"Was it really a relation of Mrs. Ransom?"
"If it was the one I suppose, it was her cousin."
"I am glad to hear it. Then poor Jack was taken care of."
"I am not sure about that," said Mark, gravely. "Though a relative, he is a selfish, bad man, and I am afraid he meant the poor boy no good."
"Good gracious!" exclaimed Mrs. Finn, startled, "you don't think he would murder the innocent child?"
"No, I don't think that, but I think he wanted to put him where his grandfather would never find him."
"Is it his grandfather you come from, then?"
"Yes; he does not even know of his grandchild's existence, but if I find him, the boy will never need any other protector. Can you tell me anything of Mrs. Ransom—of her husband?"
"Poor Mrs. Ransom was a sweet woman, who deserved a better fate. As for her husband, he was a drunkard, and a loafer. Those are hard words, but he deserved them both. They hadn't much money, but what there was he spent for liquor at the hotel yonder. More than once his poor wife and little child wouldn't have had any breakfast if I hadn't taken some over."
And warm-hearted Mrs. Finn wiped away a tear.