“That is just what Jesus Christ is,” Editha answered, eagerly. “Put your hand in His; it is always held out to all who need help; and He will lead you safely out of all danger.”
Another deep-drawn sigh was all the reply she received to this; and, after waiting a moment, she said again:
“I must not stay longer now, but I will come and see you again soon.”
“You’ll not find me here, miss, I fear,” he said, with a wistful look at her, as if to see her again would do him good; “but they’ll be here, and you have said you’ll be good to them,” indicating by a glance his wife and child, who were both now heavily sleeping.
“Yes; I will see that they are made comfortable, and I will leave this, so that if you need anything you can send Milly for it.”
Editha put a five-dollar note in his wasted hand as she spoke, and then, with a kind good-night to him, she aroused his wife, after which she went away alone into the dark and dismal night.
CHAPTER XX
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE
It was quite dark in the street, she found, when she had groped her way down the rickety stairs to it, and a fine, chill rain was falling.
With a wildly beating heart, and dilating, frightened eyes, Editha looked up and down the sidewalk, hoping to catch sight of the friendly policeman again. But he was nowhere to be seen, and there were very few people to be either seen or heard, every one who was fortunate enough to have a shelter having sought its protection against the storm.
Drawing her cloak closer about her, and calling all her resolution to her aid, she sped her way, half expecting that at every step some horrible creature would rise up and confront her, demanding the precious treasure that lay so close above her fluttering heart. But no such person was in sight, and no one appeared to be following her; and, gaining courage from the fact, she grew more calm, and began to breathe more freely, as she almost flew over the way.