“What a dear he is,” said Deborah.  Allan put his arm around her, and they looked at each other and smiled.  It was only nine days to the wedding.

Out of the street’s commotion came a sharp cry of warning.  It was followed by a shriek and a crash.  Allan looked out of the window, and then with a low exclamation he jumped from the taxi and slammed the door.

CHAPTER XX

Roger had been spending a long quiet evening at home.  He had asked John to dine with him and they had chatted for a time.  Then John had started up to his room.  And listening to the slow shuffling step of the cripple going upstairs, Roger had thought of the quick eager feet and the sudden scampers that would be heard as the silent old house renewed its life.  Later he had gone to bed.

He awakened with a start.  The telephone bell was ringing.

“Nice time to be calling folks out of bed,” he grumbled, as he went into the hall.  The next moment he heard Deborah’s voice.  It was clear and sharp with a note of alarm.

“Father—­it’s I!  You must come to Edith’s apartment at once!  Bruce is hurt badly!  Come at once!”

When Roger reached the apartment, it was Deborah who opened the door.  Her face had changed, it was drawn and gray.  She took him into the living room.

“Tell me,” he said harshly.

“It was just outside the theater.  Bruce and Edith were out in the street and got caught by some idiot of a chauffeur.  Bruce threw Edith out of the way, but just as he did it he himself got struck in the back and went under a wheel.  Allan brought him here at once, while I telephoned for a friend of his—­a surgeon.  They’re with Bruce now.”

“Where’s Edith?”

“She’s trying to quiet the children.  They all woke up—­” Deborah frowned—­“when he was brought in,” she added.

“Well!” breathed Roger.  “I declare!” Dazed and stunned, he sank into a chair.  Soon the door opened and Allan came in.

“He’s gone,” he said.  And Deborah jumped.  “No, no, I meant the doctor.”

“What does he say?”

“Bruce can’t live,” said Allan gently.  In the tense silence there came a chill.  “And he knows it,” Allan added.  “He made me tell him—­he said he must know—­for business reasons.  He wants to see you both at once, before Edith gets that child asleep.”

As they entered the room they saw Bruce on his bed.  He was breathing quickly through his narrow tight-set jaws and staring up at the ceiling with a straining fixed intensity.  As they entered he turned his head.  His eyes met theirs and lighted up in a hard and terrible manner.

“I’m not leaving them a dollar!” he cried.

“We’ll see to them, boy,” said Roger, hoarsely, but Bruce had already turned to Baird.