Page:Frank Owen - Rare Earth, 1931.djvu/286

 wake up again. There was scarcely any talking. None of them seemed in a mood for conversation.

Hung Long Tom walked silently about. He brought a cushion to Roma so that she might be more comfortable.

And now there came a loud knocking upon the front door. It was still quite early so there was nothing extraordinary in their receiving a visitor. Hung Long Tom walked out into the hall and opened the door. On the threshold he beheld a tall gaunt stranger. The man was rather poorly dressed but he had a face so kind and friendly Hung Long Tom was swayed toward him at once.

"Come in out of the cold," he said cordially.

The man did so and Hung Long Tom closed the door.

"I hate to intrude upon you," said the stranger, "but a while ago down yonder in the road I came across a tiny dog that was almost frozen. He lay shivering in the cold. It was Christmas Eve in the land, everyone was happy, but there wasn't much happiness for