Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/248

 "Doctor!" called Mr. De Vere, "do as you suggest by all means!"

Reuben, too, had heard the whistle and off he started at the doctor's heels. Nothing but paths were as yet broken but his strong arms could carry two of "dem bressed chillen" who he knew were in that train.

Just as the train was about to stop, Reuben rushed breathlessly up the station steps. "Suah 'nough, deah young Massa Jack had come, but oh, how changed!" Rugged as a bear, brown and muscular, but the same "Massa Jack" as of old.

"Dora," said Jack, "this is Reuben, the guardian angel of our family!"

Dora's eyes told Reuben that she had heard of him before and, greatly embarrassed, he took young Elisha and Celeste—one on each arm—and led the way to The Laurels followed by the others.

Half way down the yard they were met by Celeste and Cornelia, and Dora concluded that the De Veres must all be very much alike.

"So this is Dora of whom I am inclined to