“Guess it’s her, all right,” was his comment.  “Her voice seems mighty shaky as if she’s scared most out of her wits.”

How far away seemed Lois’ voice and how anxious the tone as before Jasper had even time to explain she asked about her father.  Then, as briefly as possible, Jasper told what had happened to him, his illness, and where he was.

“We need a nurse at once,” he said, “and if you can get one, send her out on the suburban.  I will meet her at the station.”

“She will be there,” was the emphatic reply.  “I know of one who will go without fail.  I thank you very much, Mr. Randall, for all your kindness to my father.”

Leaving the store Jasper made straight for the Haven where he received a royal welcome.  Early though it was they were all astir for a wonderful Christmas tree had been prepared the day before, and there it stood loaded with presents.

“We had it for Betty,” Mrs. Peterson explained, though it was quite evident that she and the captain as well as David were as much pleased as the girl.

Besides the presents from one another there was something for each one from Lois.  As Jasper watched them unwrap their gifts and listened to Betty’s exclamations of delight, a slight feeling of jealousy stole into his heart.  He was the only one there beyond the orbit of Lois’ circle of remembrance.  He was well aware that he had no reason to expect anything, and yet how much any little token would have meant to him, for it would have told him that she had not forgotten him.

“Wasn’t it kind of Miss Lois to send these lovely presents,” Betty exclaimed, after she had examined everything most carefully.  “And there’s something for you, too, Mr. Jasper,” she added.  “I kept it till the last,” and a merry twinkle shone in her eyes as she handed him a neatly-tied package.

“Why, who sent me this?” Jasper asked in surprise.

“Miss Lois, of course.  She knew that you would be here to-day, and she asked me to give it to you when you came.  This tree is her idea, you see.  We would never have thought about it but for her.  Isn’t she great!”

Jasper took the package in his hands and held it there like a big awkward school boy.  He could not trust himself to speak lest he should betray his feelings.  He longed to be away in the quietness of his own cabin that he might open his treasure and that no eyes but his might look upon the gift.  But Betty knew nothing of such thoughts.

“Open it, Mr. Jasper,” she ordered, “I know you’ll be surprised.”

Slowly and carefully Jasper untied the red ribbon and opened out the paper wrapping.  As he did so there came forth a grey woollen well-knitted muffler.

“Isn’t it lovely!” Betty exclaimed as Jasper stood holding it in his hands staring hard upon it.  “And I saw Miss Lois begin it herself just before she left for the city.  She asked me what I thought you would like for a Christmas present, and I told her that you should have a muffler to keep your throat warm on cold days.  She thought maybe you would rather have a book, but when I told her that you could buy books, but not a muffler like she could make, she said that perhaps I was right.  Let me see what it looks like on you, for I must write and tell her all about it.”