your baby sister's suffering have brought us together; each has
had a chance to realize and confess that he was wrong and had been
wicked; and now the way is clear for us to be ... friends. At least I'm
willing, if you are, to shake on that."

Judd sprang to his feet, and his lean hand shot out to grasp the one
which Donald held out to him in the darkness. And their firm clasp was a
seal to the bond that the quarrel between them was ended for all time.

"Rose will be glad, Judd. I can't let you see Lou to-night; but come
to-morrow morning ... come early before I leave, and we'll tell them all
about it, and start things all over again. Good-night, my boy," said
Donald, heartily.

And there was a new light on the face of each man, as one returned to
Jerry's cabin, and the other strode, with restored hope, to his own
abode, which had been once so cheerless.

CHAPTER XXIII

TWO LETTERS

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THE FIRST

Big Jerry's Cabin,
January 15, 1914.

My dear Dr. MacDonald,

Although this is theoretically only my semi-weekly report, made in
accordance with your instructions, I feel in the letter-writing mood,
for a wonder, so I _may_ overstep professional bounds, and become
loquacious--if one can do that with pen and ink.

Rose talks about you so continually that I am actually myself beginning
to regard you as an intimate friend, instead of an austere and somewhat
awe-inspiring "boss." I should probably not be brave enough to say that
to your face; but I find that my courage rises in adverse ratio to my
nearness to you.

First, however, for my report. The little patient is still convalescing
in a highly satisfactory manner, and with a rapidity which speaks
volumes both for her own strong constitution and this mountain as a
health resort.

The wound remains perfectly healthy and is healing without suppuration
or parting--which "speaks volumes" for your skill. I am quite certain
that the scar will be merely a thin white line, and not in the least a
disfigurement. The silk stitches are ready to be removed and the others
nearly dissolved.

Yesterday that funny, countrified doctor, from down in the village, came
up to see her--fame of your operation having spread. He "reckoned" that
the child's recovery was nothi