hearing, my dear. Who did you say you were?" asked
Jack Morgan's mother, patiently.

Polly repeated her explanation, adding a few more particulars, all as
loudly as possible. They had now an interested audience of Mexicans and
Indians, male and female, old and young, who found the scene none the less
attractive because they did not understand it.

"Well, I suppose he didn't get your letter," said Mrs. Morgan. "Jack and
his wife have gone over to spend a few days with some friends in Mescal or
they'd run you over in the car." There was a pause as Polly digested this
unwelcome bit of news, then the old lady continued: "They'd only been gone
two days when both the children came down with mumps, and my Mexican
woman's husband had to take that time to join the army, so, of course, she
had to leave. If things weren't so messed up I'd take you home with
me----"

"Oh, no," said Polly, promptly. "I couldn't think of it. If I could just
get somebody to drive me over----" Both she and Mrs. Morgan looked at
Swartz.

"Mendoza might if he ain't drunk--sometimes he ain't," volunteered that
gentleman.

"Oh, no, I don't think I'd like him," shivered Polly. "Isn't there anybody
else?"

"Nobody with a car," replied Mrs. Morgan. "It'd take you till morning to
drive over--the roads are awful. Mendoza is a very decent old thing. You
go and see if you can get him, Swartz," and Swartz lumbered away. Old lady
Morgan understood how to make herself obeyed. "Have you tried to get
Athens on the 'phone?"

"Telephone?" A smile broke over Polly's unhappy face. "Why, I never
thought of that."

"Good heavens, child, where do you think you are? Here, I'll get them for
you."

She led the way to the office.

"I haven't seen your brother since he went up to Douglas to get married,"
she said. "Didn't know they'd come home."

"Oh, yes, they must be home," said Polly, an awful doubt coming into her
mind. "They--they must be home!"

Mrs. Morgan seized the receiver and began exchanging insults with the
invisible Central. After several minutes she gave up the effort.

"It's no use, I can't raise them--our service is dreadful down here," she
said. "Now, I'll tell you what to do. I've got to run home before the baby
wakes up; if he can't get Mendoza, you come on down to the house and stay
the night with me. See, it's the last house--got a Union Jack flying from
it. If I don't see you in half an hour I'll know you've gone with Mendoza.
You needn't