Giving
low instructions to the driver, he vaulted to the side of Nell Darrel,
and the hack rattled away.
Nell sat flushed and silent for some minutes, her heart throbbing
painfully.
"Tell me about it," she finally said to her companion. "How did it
happen?"
"I can't give you the particulars, since they were not given to me,"
answered he. "I only know that Dyke met with a fall on the stone
pavement, and Dr. Boneset says that his leg is broken. He is in
considerable pain, but cheerful withal, and will be mighty glad to see
Nell, as he calls you."
Again the man smiled in the face of the girl at his side, and up to
this time no suspicion of the truth flashed upon her brain.
Although the hack moved rapidly, it seemed to the anxious girl a long
time in reaching its destination.
"Mr. Darrel is at my house," said the gentleman, "and I live at least
two miles from the depot."
This was said to silence the growing uneasiness manifested by Miss
Darrel.
When at length the hack came to a halt, Mr. Sims quickly alighted and
lifted Nell Darrel to the curb; then the hack sped swiftly into the
night.
Nell gazed about her with a shudder.
The low, dingy buildings and bad smell pervading the place startled
her.
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