d, but she struggled against the throat spray and was
exhausted when the treatment was finished.

"They'll build up, but slowly," declared the doctor when he and Betty
and Bob were again together in the kitchen. "I think it is safe to
say that they'll sleep nearly all day. Keep them warm and on a light
diet--here is a better list than the one I scribbled last night--and
be careful of yourself, Betty. I'm having some supplies sent out to
you. I took a look at the pantry last night before you came, and the
old ladies have been living on what the farm produced; if it didn't
produce what they needed, they evidently went without. I'm afraid
they're desperately poor and proud. What's that? Grandma Watterby's
beef extract? Fine! Just what you need! Give 'em some for supper.
Well, Betty, out with it--don't ask a question with your eyes; use
your tongue."

"The fire?" stammered Betty. "Is it out? Have you heard anything?"

"Still burning," was the reluctant answer. "About all the town spent
the night up there, hampering the employees I haven't a doubt and
thinking they were helping the force. However, don't worry, child; I
honestly believe that Mr. Gordon is in no danger. He is intelligent
and careful, and the company will sacrifice the whole field before
they will let a man risk his life."

Doctor Morrison was to come the next day, and some hours after he
left them a rickety oil field wagon drove up and left a box of
groceries. The boy driving the sleek mule was in a great hurry "to
see the fire," and he merely tumbled the box off and drove on with
hardly an unnecessary word.

"Goodness, the doctor seems to expect us to stay a month!" gasped
Betty, unpacking the tin cans and packages. "It's almost as much fun
as keeping a store, isn't it, Bob? Oh, my gracious! what was that?"

A cry had sounded from Miss Hope's bedroom.

Bob and Betty ran to the door. She was sitting up in bed, her bright,
hot eyes staring at them unseeingly.

"Faith!" she cried piercingly. "Faith, my darling!"

CHAPTER XVII

SICK FANCIES

Betty turned to stare at Bob. He looked at her helplessly.

"My mother!" he whispered. "She's calling my mother!"

Betty was the first to recover. She went quietly over to the bed.

"There, dear, lie down," she said soothingly. "Everything is all
right. It's the fever," she explained in an aside to Bob. "The doctor
said she used to be out of her head when she had even a slight cold."

"Faith!" cried