beautiful?"

"Decidedly; but how came you with the Colonel?" queried the
Doctor.

"Why, he was right out there, if front of his house, and I asked
him to catch you--there was n't any other way. I could n't
make you hear. Oh, I do wish you could have seen Lone Star go!"

"I'll venture he never did a more valuable service," said the
Doctor fervently. "Perhaps I might add, or you either. If it had
not been for your ready wits things might have gone worse. I
tried some new medicine for David, and it worked well, exceedingly
well."

"Is he a good deal better?"

"Very comfortable. He was sleeping when I left him. Don't
worry, Thistledown!" for tears stood in Polly's eyes. "I think
he is going to pull through all right, and we'll have him down in
the other ward before you know it."

Tea was served directly, and there were big, juicy blackberries,
with which Dr. Dudley piled Polly's dish high.

When they returned to the office the story of the afternoon was
finished, Polly holding back nothing, even repeating her saucy
speech to the nurse.

The Doctor received it with a queer little smile.