CHAPTER V.

THE ACCIDENT.

A rainy day—The hay-cutter—Blood—A 74 mutilated finger—The missing piece—The first outburst of grief—The tip replaced—Sympathy—The doctor—Encouraging words—The case of instruments—Sewing the piece on—Whistler’s heroic endurance of pain—Praise—Directions—The fire—A sad loss—The missing horse—The work of a villain—Suspicions—Tom Walker—The public security diminished—A visit to the ruins—The two babies—A good retort—How the finger got along—Writing home—An unpleasant duty—An intimation of carelessness—Whistler’s sensitiveness—Clinton’s defence—His device for making the hay-cutter safe—Its successful operation—The letter mailed—Going to bed—Some speculations about Dick Sneider—Suspicions—A restless night,