gnizing no one. The anxiety felt in Dr. Dudley's office
extended upstairs to the little people of the convalescent ward,
for since the Colonel's birthday gift they had taken great
interest in the master of the famous trotter. Every morning they
were eager for the latest news from the second house away where
their friend lay so ill.

The twentieth of September was hot and oppressive. Early in the
evening thunder clouds heaped the western sky, and occasional
flashes of lightning portended a shower.

After the children were established for the night, Miss Lucy sat
long by the open window watching the electrical display. The
clouds rose slowly, lingering beyond the western hills with no
wind to aid their progress. Finally she partly undressed, and
throwing on a kimono settled herself comfortably upon her cot, to
await the uncertain storm, ready to shut the windows in case of
driving rain. By and by fitful breezes fluttered through the
room, the low rumbling of thunder was heard, and presently a soft
patter of drops on the leaves. The lightning grew brilliant. The
nurse dreamed and waked by turns. At length she was aroused by
steps along the corridor. They sounded like Dr. Dudley's. S She
was at the door as the physician's knuckle touched it. In
response to his voice she stepped outside, that they might not
disturb the sleepers.

"I want to take Polly over to Colonel Gresham's," the Doctor
explained. "He keeps on calling for 'Eva,' and nothing will quite
him. He is on the verge of collapse."

"Did n't Mrs. Collins come?"

"Yes; but he did n't know her. It broke her all up. I think now
that he has gone back to the time when she was a little girl, and
possibly has confounded her with Polly. At any rate, I'm going to
try the experiment of taking Polly over. It can do no harm, and
may do some good."

The hall suddenly burst into light, and there was a simultaneous
roar of thunder.

"We're going to have a shower," observed the Doctor.

"I should think it was already here," returned Miss Lucy. "Had
n't you better wait till it passes, before taking Polly out?"

"Oh, no! Wrap her up well, and I'll carry her. It is only a few
stops; she won't get wet."

Polly was a quaint little figure in the long mackintosh, and it
tripped her feet once or twice, until the doctor drew it from her
and threw it across his arm.

The thunder had been lighter for some minutes; but as they halted
at the entrance before g