"Well, dear, we all have our trials, and must ask Him to help us bear them," replied the elderly maiden, with sincere piety. "But about the rent. How much is it?"
"Not much, truly. But it’s more than I have, or I’d pay it in a minute. Have you any money at all?"
Miss Parks drew out her pocketbook, and examined the contents.
"Just a dollar," she exclaimed. "I declare we are both poor, with money in the bank, too." She paused a moment in deep thought. "I’ll tell you what you might do."
"Move your things down to my house. I’ll let you have the back bedroom and attic, and when you’re settled we’ll see what is to be done. Jack will be back before a great while, I’m certain."
Miss Parks was entirely alone in the world. The house that she occupied was her own, left her by an invalid uncle, whom she had nursed constantly during the last four years of his life. She was a dress-maker, and a lady’s companion, and earned a fair living--a goodly portion of which found its way to charity and the church--for she was a devout Christian, and an earnest worker in the cause.
"Oh, thank you!" cried Deb, a heavy weight taken from her mind. "But won’t it be inconvenient for you?"
"Not a bit. In fact I think I’ll enjoy company."
"Then I’ll accept your offer," continued the girl, "And I think it is real good of you to let me come."
Miss Parks bent down and kissed the tired cheeks.
"You’re a good girl, Deb," she said. "You don’t deserve such a trial as this."
A little later a truckman was engaged who speedily transferred the household goods to Deb’s new home.
Mont Gray hastened to the Corney postoffice with all possible speed. For his own sake, as well as for Deb’s he wished to dispatch his business as quickly as possible, so as to devote the remainder of the day to hunting up Jack.
He was afraid that something out of the ordinary had befallen his friend. He had not wished to add to Deb’s already deep anxiety, but he knew Jack too well to imagine that the young machinist would willfully keep his sister in ignorance of his whereabouts.
This feeling upon the young man’s part might not have been so strong had all other surroundings been more tranquil. But since the shut-down at the tool works the air had been filled with murmurs of dissatisfaction--augmented largely by the suspension of the bank, and everywhere there prevailed a vague feeling that something was about to happen.