little palm, but she held it fast.

"Tell me at once, Joe," commanded Polly. "Hush!--mother"--but Mrs.
Pepper was already out of the pantry.

"Joel," said Mrs. Pepper, "whatever it is, tell us immediately."

The look in her black eyes forced him to gasp in one breath, "Dick fell
off the double ripper, and both of his legs are broken--may be not," he
added in a loud scream.

Phronsie still held the boy's hand. He was conscious of it, and that she
uttered no word, and then he knew no more.

"Leave him to me, Polly," said Mrs. Pepper, through drawn lips, "and
then do you run as you have never run before, to the parsonage. Oh! if
they should bring him there before the mother hears."

Phronsie dropped the hand she held, and running on unsteady little feet
into the bedroom, came back with Polly's hood and coat.

"Let me go," cried Polly wildly, rushing away from the detaining hand to
the door, "I don't want those things on. Let me go, Phronsie!"

"You'll be cold," said Phronsie. With all her care, her little white
lips were quivering as she held out the things. "Please, Polly," she
said piteously.

"The child is right; put them on," commanded Mrs. Pepper, for one
instant taking her thought from her boy; and Polly obeyed, and was gone.