that mule skipped right out in front of me. It looked as though he did
it on purpose. I did not have time to get out of his way, and it never
occurred to him to get out of mine, and so I went Bang! right into him.
And it broke Mattie Moore's wheel, and upset me quite a little. But that
mule never budged! Jerry--er Harmer,--Mr. Harmer, you know,--said he
believed an earthquake could coast downhill on to that mule without
seriously inconveniencing him. I was hurt a little, and couldn't get up.
And so he jumped over the fence,--No, Connie, not the mule, of course!
Mr. Harmer! He jumped over the fence, and put his coat on the ground,
and made a pillow for me with the shirts and towels in his bag, and
carried me over. Then he wanted to go for a wagon to bring me home, but
I was too nervous and scared, so he stayed with me. Then Mr. Davis came
along with his cart, and Jerry--er--Harmer, you know, helped put me in,
and the cart was so small they both had to walk."

"Where is he now?" "Is he young?" "Is he handsome?" "Did he look rich?"

"Don't be silly, girls. He went to the hotel, I suppose. Anyhow, he
left us as soon as we reached town. He said he was in a hurry, and had
something to look after. His coat was underneath me in the wagon, and he
wouldn't take it out for fear of hurting my ankle, so the poor soul is
probably wandering around this town in his shirt-sleeves."

Already, in the eyes of the girls, this Jerry--er--Harmer, had taken unto
himself all the interest of the affair.

"He'll have to come for his coat," said Lark. "We're bound to see him."

"Where does he live? What was he doing in the hickory grove?" inquired
Mr. Starr with a strangely sinking heart, for her eyes were alight with