Hank was not naturally superstitious, and, obeying his first impulse, he shouted out, "Who in the d——l are you?"
The Dr. made a warning gesture with his hand, as if to compel silence, and the audacious questioner instinctively recoiled further back in his bed. His courage began to fail him, and a mixture of fear and astonishment kept him silent while his visitor remained, which was only long enough to secure the prize he was seeking among the contents of the shelves.
Not suspecting the full extent of the paralyzing effect his presence had had upon Hank, and fearing he might attempt to follow, the Dr. took a circuitous route home, and in his haste stumbled over something which he discovered to be a shivering, half naked child, crouched upon the ground.
"What are you doing out here this time of night, my little fellow?" said he.
"I'm afraid of papa," sobbed the child, "he said he'd skin me alive if I didn't get out of his sight."
"What is your name? Where do you live? what bad thing have you been doing?" said the Dr., all in a breath.
"I live in a shanty out there, I am Fanny Green. I ain't done anything bad but cry, and I couldn't help it, for papa was striking mamma so."
"Well, come with me, Fanny, I'll take you to your home, and I won't let your papa hurt you."
"Are you an angel?" said Fanny, feeling of the hand that held hers.
"No, I'm a man, my little girl."