rl eyed him, her head on one side. It was her experience
that all men were jokers. "I don't know what a mascot is," she replied.

"It's something or somebody that brings one good luck."

"Do you think I could bring you good luck?"

"It looks that way. Of course there are certain rules you would have to
observe. It wouldn't do for you to talk against materia medica to the
patients in the anteroom."

"What is an anteroom?"

"The place where my patients wait until I can see them in my office."

Jewel lifted her shoulders and smiled. "I might read them 'Science and
Health' while they waited, and then they wouldn't have to go in."

Dr. Ballard's laugh rang heartily along the leafy street. "Is that your
idea of mascoting a poor young physician?" he inquired.

Jewel laughed in sympathy. She didn't quite understand him, but she knew
that they were having a very good time.

Pretty soon her companion drove in at the gate of an imposing old
residence, set back from the street where the trolley ran with an air of
withdrawing from the intrusion of these modern tracks.

"I thought it wouldn't injure your conscience to wait for me while I
made a couple of professional visits, Jewel, eh?" he asked, as he jumped
out and fastened Hector to the ring in the hand of a bronze boy. "I
won't be any longer than I can help, and don't you go to hoodooing me,
now, while I'm upstairs." The doctor returned to the buggy and took the
black case, frowning warningly at the child. "I have troubles enough
here without that. This old lady used to trot me on her knee, and she
wants to spend half an hour every morning proving that doctors don't
know anything before she'll let me get to business."

"It must be hard for doctors," returned Jewel, "going to sorry people
all the time, and nothing to give them except something on their
tongues."

Dr. Ballard gave his small companion a quick glance. If he secretly
considered her beliefs as too richly absurd to excite aught but
amusement, she evidently as honestly compassionated the poverty of ideas
in his learned profession.

"Well, I'll hurry," he said, and vanished within the house. Time would
not have dragged for Jewel had he stayed all the morning. To sit in the
shining buggy in close proximity to the dappled gray Hector, and with
Anna Belle for a sympathizer, caused the minutes to be winged.

When the doctor returned, a radiant face welcomed him.

"I thought I should never get away," he sighed