the depot. The conductor swung easily to the platform, and, watch in
hand, walked quickly to the office. Porters and trainmen tumbled off, and
with a long hiss of escaping air and a steady puff-puff, the train
stopped.

In the bustle and confusion of crowding passengers getting on and off,
tearful good-byes and joyful greetings, banging trunks, rattling trucks,
hissing steam, the doctor watched. Then he saw him, his handsome head
towering above the pushing, jostling crowd. The Doctor could not get to
him, and with difficulty restrained a shout. But Dan with his back to
them all pushed his way to an open window of the car he had just left,
where a woman's face turned to him in earnest conversation.

"There he is," said the Doctor, "that tall fellow by the window there."

At his words the physician heard an exclamation, and, glancing back, saw
the women staring eagerly, while Charity's face wore a look of painful
doubt and disappointment. The Elder's countenance was stern and frowning.

"Seems mightily interested," said one, suggestively.

"What a pretty face," added another, also suggestively.

The Doctor spoke quickly, "Why that's--" Then he stopped with an
expression on his face that came very near being a malicious grin.

The conductor, watch again in hand, shouted, the porters stepped aboard,
the bell rang, the engineer, with his long oil-can, swung to his cab,
slowly the heavy train began to gather headway. As it went Dan walked
along the platform beside that open window, until he could no longer