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DORIS”AyounggirlnamedDorisScott?”
Thestation-masterlookedsomewhatsharplyatthemanhewasaddressing，anddecidedtogivethedirectionasked。”Thereisbutoneyounggirlintownofthatname，”hedeclared，”andshelivesinthatlittlehouseyouseejustbeyondtheworks。
Butletmetellyou，stranger，”hewentonwithsomeprecipitation——
Butherehewascalledoff，andSweetwaterlosttheconclusionofhiswarning，ifwarningitwasmeanttobe。Thisdidnottroublethedetective。Hestoodamoment，takingintheprospect；decidedthattheWorksandtheWorksalonemadethetown，andstartedforthehousewhichhadbeenpointedouttohim。Hiswaylaythroughthechiefbusinessstreet，andgreatlypreoccupiedbyhiserrand，hegavebutapassingglancetotherowsonrowsofworkmen’sdwellingsstretchingawaytotheleftinseeminglyendlessperspective。Yetinthatglancehecertainlytookinthefacthatthesidewalkswereblockedwithpeopleandwonderedifitwereaholiday。Ifso，itmustbeanenforcedone，forthefacesshowedlittlejoy。Possiblyastrikewason。Theanxietyheeverywheresawpicturedonyoungfacesandold，arguedsometrouble；butifthetroublewasthat，whywereallheadsturnedindifferentlyfromtheWorks，andwhyweretheWorksthemselvesinfullblast?
Thesequestionshemayhaveaskedhimselfandhemaynot。Hisattentionwasentirelycentredonthehousehesawbeforehimandonthepossibledevelopmentsawaitinghimthere。Nothingelsemattered。Brisklyhesteppedoutalongthesandyroad，andafteraturnortwowhichledhimquiteawayfromtheWorksanditssurroundingbuildings，hecameoutuponthehighwayandthishouse。
Itwasalowandunpretentiousone，andhadbutonedistinguishingfeature。Theporchwhichhungwelloverthedoorstepwasuniqueinshapeandgaveanairofpicturesquenesstoanotherwisesimpleexterior；apicturesquenesswhichwasmuchenhancedinitseffectbythebackgroundofillimitableforest，whichunitedtheforegroundofthispleasingpicturewiththegreatchainofhillswhichheldtheWorksandtowninitsamplebasin。
Asheapproachedthedoorstep，hismindinvoluntarilyformedananticipatoryimageofthechildwhosefirststitchesinembroiderywerelikeafairy’sweavingtothestrongmanwhoworkedinoreandpossiblyfiguredoutbridges。Thatshewouldprovetobeoftheanemictype，commonamongworkinggirlsgiftedwithanimaginationtheyhavebutscantopportunitytoexercise，hehadlittledoubt。
Hewasthereforegreatlytakenaback，whenathisfirststepupontheporch，thedoorbeforehimflewopenandhebeheldinthedarkrecessbeyondayoungwomanofsuchbrightandbloomingbeautythathehardlynoticedherexpressionofextremeanxiety，tillsheliftedherhandandlaidanadmonitoryfingersoftlyonherlip：”Hush！shewhispered，withanearnestnesswhichrousedhimfromhisabsorptionandrestoredhimtothefullmeaningofthisencounter。”Thereissicknessinthehouseandweareveryanxious。Isyourerrandanimportantone?Ifnot-”Thefalteringbreakinthefresh，youngvoice，thelookshecastbehindherintothedarkenedinterior，wereeloquentwiththehopethathewouldrecogniseherimpatienceandpasson。
Andsohemighthavedone，-sohewouldhavedoneunderallordinarycircumstances。ButifthiswasDoris-andhedidnotdoubtthefactafterthefirstmomentofstartledsurprise-howdareheforegothisopportunityofsettlingthequestionwhichhadbroughthimhere。
Withaslightstammerbutotherwisegivingnoevidenceoftheeffectmadeuponhimbythepassionateintensitywithwhichshehadurgedthisplea，heassuredherthathiserrandwasimportant，butonesoquicklytoldthatitwoulddelayherbutamoment。”Butfirst，saidh
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