orphant. I don't know what the poor little Hoovers would do without
you!"

"That's what poor Mr. Hoover says," answered Bettie with the utmost
unconsciousness. "Show Mis' Mayberry the puppy's foot, 'Lias."

"Why, the pitiful little thing!" exclaimed Mother when a small,
brown, crushed paw was presented to her inspection. "What happened
to it?"

"Mr. Petway's horse stepped on it--he didn't care. He just got in
the buggy and went on. I'm a-going to kill him with a gun when I get
one." Tears of rage and grief welled up in 'Lias' eyes, but he
choked them back with a resolution that boded ill for Mr. Petway
when the time of reckoning came.

"You mustn't talk that way, 'Lias, though it are a shame," said
Mother as she looked closely at the injured paw. "The bone's all
crushed. I'll tell you what to do; just take him around to Doctor
Tom's office and he'll fix it in no time for you, in a way I
couldn't never do. He won't even limp, maybe." And Mother Mayberry
made the offer of a piece of skilled surgery with the utmost
generosity.

'Lias clasped the puppy closer, looked down and drew one of his bare
toes along a crack in the floor. "I'd rather you'd do it," he said.

"Now, don't that just beat all!" exclaimed Mother with both
amusement and exasperation in her face. "Looks like I can't even get
Tom a puppy practice."