ight, so Polly laughed too.

"I made an awful mistake," she explained; "I sprayed some
kerosene all around, instead of de-sodarizer."

The Colonel was grave for a polite moment. Then, "And you did
n't smell it?" he laughed.

"Not till Elsie yelled at me to stop. I don't see shy I did
n't."

"But it seems hardly fair to punish one for a mistake."

"Well," confessed Polly, "that was n't all. I got mad, and I
guess I was pretty saucy to High Price. She said something about
Miss Lucy that I did n't like, and I told her what I thought--I
just had to! So she sent me to sit in a chair till she said to
get up. Then when the nurse came for me to catch Dr. Dudley, I
was so scared about David that I ran right off, without even
asking permission--I don't know what she will do to me now!
But you can't stop for anything when folks are 'most dying, can
you?"

"I should say not," the Colonel replied. "I reckon she won't
treat you very badly."

"I don't care what she does, if David only gets well. But, oh,
how can David's mother stand it, if he does n't! She's sick, you
know, so she could n't come to see him--he's all she's got, and
such a dear boy! He works to earn money for her when he's well,
sells papers, and everything. I guess they're rather poor; but
perhaps I ought n't to talk about that. Please don't tell anybody
I said it, 'cause I don't really know."

"I shall not speak of it," promised Colonel Gresham gravely.
"But how happens it that you're at the hospital? You're not
sick, are you?"

"Not a bit now. I was hurt, but Dr. Dudley cured me. I'm on the
staff--that's why I stay," Polly explained soberly.

"Oh! You're that little girl, are you?"

She nodded.

"I heard something about it at the time. Well, Lone Star and I
will be glad to take you for a drive some other day, when you have
n't any punishment on hand." He drew up the horse at the hospital
entrance.

"Oh! Is that his name?" exclaimed Polly. "What a loveluscious
one! Would he mind if I stroked his nose?" she asked, as the
Colonel lifted her down.

"He would like it very much." And they went round to the horse's
head together.

"Now I must go in," Polly sighed, giving the affectionate animal
a last, loving pat. "I thank you ever and ever so much, Colonel
Gresham, and I should be happy to go to ride with you again some
day. I hope I have n't hindered you. Good-bye."

She skipped up the long walk to the house, the Colonel watching