He reached the outhouse where his horse was tied, and, as he was leading the impatient animal forth, one of the children within the cottage adjoining woke up and began to cry.

He waited still a moment, and heard the mother arise and soothe it; then a window overhead opened, and a woman said-- "Is that you, Mr.Hawker ?" "Aye," said he, "it's me.

Come for the horse." He was startled at the sound of his own voice.

It was like another man's.

But like the voice of some one he seemed to know, too.