saying you couldn't swallow when we were coming home from school?"

"It isn't sore now," said Carol. And as though intolerant of further
questioning, she left the dining-room quickly.

"Shall I put flannel on her chest and throat, father?" asked Prudence
nervously.

"Yes, and if she gets worse we will call the doctor. It's probably
just a cold, but we must----"

"It isn't diphtheria, papa, you know that," cried Prudence passionately.

For there were four reported cases of that dread disease in Mount Mark.

But the pain in Carol's chest did grow worse, and she became so
feverish that she began talking in quick broken sentences.

"It was too hot!--Don't go away, Larkie!--Her feet were wet, and it
kept squshing out.--I guess I'm kind of sick, Prue.--Don't put that
thing on my head, it is strangling me!--Oh, I can't get my breath!"
And she flung her hand out sharply, as though to push something away
from her face.

Then Mr. Starr went to the telephone and hurriedly called the doctor.
Prudence meanwhile had undressed Carol, and put on her little pink
flannel nightgown.

"Go out in the kitchen, girls, and shut the door," she said to her
sisters, who stood close around the precious twin, so suddenly