hat of one upon whom, out of darkness, a
light has suddenly burst. "I see," he mused, thoughtfully. "Yes, yes. I
see."

For a minute he stood still, evidently pondering. Then, with a twinkle
in his eye, he strode out of the house and walked briskly across to the
buggy.

"Good morning, ladies," he said, removing the new cap which Seth had
recently purchased for him in Eastboro. "Mr. Stover tells me you wish to
be shown the lights."

The plump woman answered. "Yes," she said, briskly, "we do. Are you a
new keeper? Where's Mr. Atkins?"

"Mr. Atkins, I regret to say," began Brown, "is ill. He--"

Stover, standing at his elbow, interrupted nervously.

"Mr. Brown here'll show us around," he said quickly. "Seth said he
would."

"I shall be happy," concurred that young gentleman. "You must excuse me
if I seem rather worried. Mr. Atkins, my chief--I believe you know him,
Mrs. Stover--has been taken suddenly ill, and is, apparently, suffering
much pain. The attack was very sudden, and I--"

"Sick?" The plump woman seemed actually to prick up her ears, like a
sleepy cat at the sound of the dinner bell. "Is Seth sick? And you all
alone with him here? Can't I do anything to help?"

"All he wants is to be left alone," put in her husband anxiously. "He
said so himself."

"Do you know what's the matter? Have you got any medicine for him?" Mrs.
Stover was already climbing out of the buggy.

"No," replied Brown. "I haven't. That is, I haven't given him any yet."

The slim woman, Mrs. Hains of Boston, now broke into the conversation.

"Good thing!" she snapped. "Most medicine's nothing but opium and
alcohol. Fill the poor creature full of drugs and--"

"I s'pose you'd set and preach New Thought at him!" snapped Mrs. Stover.
"As if a body could be cured by hot air! I believe I'll go right in and
see him. Don't you s'pose I could help, Mr. Brown?"

Mr. Brown seemed pleased, but reluctant. "It's awfully good of you," he
said. "I couldn't think of troubling you when you've come so far on a
pleasure excursion. But I am at my wit s end."

"Don't say another word!" Mrs. Stover's bulky figure was already on the
way to the door of the house. "I'm only too glad to do what I can. And,
if I do say it, that shouldn't, I'm always real handy in a sick room.
'Bijah, be quiet; I don't care if we ARE on a picnic; no human bein'
shall suffer while I set around and do nothin'."

Mrs. Hains was at her cousin's heels.

"You'll worry him