CHAPTER XV.
WEIGHTY MATTERS.
With his hands thrust into his pockets, and his hat pulled over his grief stricken eyes, Bernard slowly wended his way to his boarding place.
He locked himself in his room and denied himself to all callers.

He paced to and fro, his heart a cataract of violent, tossing, whirling emotions.

He sat down and leaned his head upon the bed, pressing his hand to his forehead as if to restore order there.

While thus employed his landlady knocked at the door and called through the key hole, informing him that there was a telegram for him.

Bernard arose, came out, signed for and received the telegram, tore it open and read as follows: Waco, Texas, -- --l8---- "HON.