"I thought so," he went on.

"Well, I didn't go to spend Christmas.

I went because Jimmy brought me a telegram that Lida was sick with diphtheria.

I sat up nights with her for 'leven days." "No bad after-effects, I hope ?" inquired Thorpe.
"She died," said Radway simply.
The two men tramped stolidly on.

This was too great an affair for Thorpe to approach except on the knees of his spirit.