the moment, that Joe
had returned. It was not Joe who was sitting immovable on the seat of
the light wagon that was drawn up before the gate, but my astonishment
would not have been so great if it had been. The small, bronzed-faced,
wiry individual who sat still, calmly returning my inquiring gaze was
none other than our persevering enemy, Mr. Jacob Horton. I did not
fancy our caller, but thinking that he would not have called if he had
not some reason for so doing, I walked out and down the path toward
him, saying, "Good morning, Mr. Horton."

"Mornin', Miss Leslie. Folks all well?"

"Not very well; at least, Jessie isn't. She's got a dreadful
toothache."

"Toothache, eh? That's bad. Nothin' like yankin' out fur an achin'
tooth. That's my experience, and you may pass it along to Miss Jessie
for what it's worth."

"I don't know what good it will do her if I do," I replied, rather
irritably, for Jessie was sobbing now, and the sound hurt me almost
as much as a physical pain could have done.

"Why, the good it will do is that that old nigger of yours--Joe, you
call him--will tackle up, she'll tie on her bunnet, hop into the
wagon, and away for Dr. Green's office in Antonito, and she'll set as
still as a mouse while the doctor yanks out that tooth; that's the
good it'll do."

"Yes, that might all be if Joe wasn't away with the team."

"Wal', that does rather spoil my program. Goin' to be gone all day,
is he?"

"Yes; maybe for two or three days. He's gone up to the Archer
settlement on the Jerusalem trail."

"Oh, has he? Wal', now!"

Mr. Horton had been sitting all this time with the reins in one hand,
his hat in the other. He now replaced the hat on his head and stood
up. He remained standing so, motionless, for more than a minute,
gazing steadfastly at his horses' ears, while his brow puckered and
his small eyes narrowed like those of a person in deep thought.
Finally he exclaimed:

"Say, I tell you how we'll fix it. You all get in here with me and
come over to my house. Maria, she'll be sure to think of something to
ease that tooth the minute she claps eyes on ye; then, in the mornin',
she or I'll take ye over to the doctor's office, and bring ye home
afterward. Hey, what do you say, Miss Jessie?" for Jessie had by this
time come out of the gate, with Ralph clinging to her hand.

Jessie, the pain of her aching tooth dulled for the moment by sheer
amazement, said that he was very kind. She said it almost