CHAPTER XVIII.
A DETECTIVE ON THE TRACK.
Boarding-house life tends to make one
selfish; "each for himself and God for us
all," is the boarders' motto. Where people
come and go, drifting in and out like weeds
upon the tide, deep interests or affections
are rare, but even in boarding-houses men
are sometimes thoughtful, and women sympathetic.
This is especially true in cases
of illness. The medical lady and Mrs.
Dumaresq rushed to the assistance of Prudence
when she stumbled off the sofa in a
dead faint. She was conveyed to her room,
smelling-salts, strong brandy-and-water from
Major Jones' private store, burnt feathers,
and other powerful but unpleasant remedies
were applied until she opened her eyes and
gasped:
"Where am I? What has happened?"
Before anyone could answer, memory
