A factory-girl, belated, shivered into the car in a thin summer jacket and stood beside a girl in furs and a handsome coat.  Courtland thought of Bonnie in her little shabby black suit—­a summer suit, of course.  He remembered noticing how thin it looked as they stood beside the grave on the bleak hillside, and wondering if she were not cold.  But it was mild that day compared to this, and the sun had been shining then.  She must have half frozen in that long, long ride!  And had she money enough to buy her something to eat?  She had left a five-dollar bill at the hospital.  Some instinct taught him that it was the last she had!

He grew more and more nervous and impatient as he neared his destination.

He sprang up the narrow stairs that had grown so familiar to him the past week, watching anxiously the crack under the door to see if there was a light.  But it was all dark!  He tapped at the door lightly.  But of course she would have gone to bed at once after the exertion of the journey!  He tapped louder, and held his breath to listen.  But no answer came!

Then he tapped again, and called, in half-subdued tones:  “Miss Brentwood!  Are you there?”

A stir was heard at the other end of the hall, the sound of the scratching of a match.  A light appeared under the door of the front room, the door opened a crack, and a frowsy head was thrust out, with a candle held high above it, and eyes that were full of sleep peering into the darkness of the hall.

“Has Miss Brentwood returned?  Have you seen her?” he asked.

“Not as I knows on, she ’ain’t come,” said a woman’s voice.  “I went to bed early.  She might ov and I not hear her, she’s so softly like.”

“I wonder if we could find out?  Would you mind coming and trying?”

The woman looked at him keenly.  “Oh, you’re the young feller what come to the fun’rul, ain’t you?  Well, you jest wait a bit an’ I’ll throw somethin’ on an’ come an’ try.”  The woman came in an amazing costume of many colors, and called and shook the door.  She got her key and unlocked the door, stepping cautiously inside and looking about.  She advanced, holding the candle high, Courtland waiting behind.  He could see one withered white rosebud on the floor.  There was no sign of Bonnie!  Her room was just as she had left it on the day of the funeral!

Where was Bonnie Brentwood?

CHAPTER XIV

Suddenly, as Courtland stood in the narrow, dark street alone and in uncertainty, he was no longer alone.  As clearly as if he felt a touch upon his sleeve he knew that One was there beside him, and that this errand he was upon had the sanction of that Presence which had met him once in the fiery way and promised to show him what to do.

“God, show me where to find her!” he ejaculated, and then, as if one had said, “Come with me!” he turned as certainly as if a passer-by had directed him where he had seen her, and walked up the street.  That is, they walked up the street.