I've got to go half way to Bristol to set a feller's leg.
They telephoned me. Before I could get there and back that Narnay baby
is going to be out of the reach of all my pills and powders."

He did not say it harshly; it was Dr. Poole's way to be brusk.

"Oh, Doctor! Will it surely die?"

"Not two hours to live--positively," said the physician, gathering up
the reins. "I'm sorry for Jim. If the fellow is a drunkard, he is
mighty tender-hearted when it comes to kids--and he's sober," he added,
under his breath.

"Is he there?" asked Janice, quickly.

"No. Hasn't been in town for two weeks. Up in the woods somewhere.
It will break him all up in business, I expect. I told you, for I
didn't know but you'd want to go down and see the woman."

"Thank you, Doctor," Janice said, as the chaise rattled away. But she
did not turn back down the hill. Instead, she quickened her steps in
the opposite direction.

"Well! I am glad for once you are not going to wear yourself out with
other people's troubles," said Nelson, looking sideways at her.

"Poor Mr. Narnay," said the girl. "I am going after him. He must see
the baby before she dies."

"Janice!"

"Yes. The car is all ready, I know. It will take only half an hour to
run up there where those men are at work. I took Elder Concannon over
there once. The road isn't bad at all at this time of year."

"Do you mean you are going clear over the mountain after that drunken
Narnay?" demanded Nelson, with some heat.

"I am going after the baby's father, Nelson," she replied softly. "You
may go, too, if you are real good," and she smiled up at him so
roguishly that his frown was dissipated and he had to smile in return.

They reached the Day house shortly and Janice hurried in for her
dust-coat and goggles. Marty offered his own cap and "blinders," as he
called them, to the schoolmaster.

"You'll sure need 'em, Mr. Haley, if you go with Janice, and she's
drivin'. I b'lieve she said she was in a hurry," and he grinned as he
opened the garage door and ran the Kremlin out upon the gravel.

The automobile moved out of the yard and took the steep hill easily.
Once on the Upper Road, Janice urged the car on and they passed Elder
Concannon's in a cloud of dust.

The camp where the baby's father was at work was easily found. Jim
Narnay seemed to know what the matter was, for he flung down the axe he
was using and was first of the three at the side of the car