ney," the mountaineer drawled. "Jest ez quick ez I get
on my shoes."

"Is there a doctor near?" she asked breathlessly.

He answered without looking up:

"The best one that God ever sent to a sick bed. He don't charge nobody
a cent in these parts. He just heals the sick because hit's his callin'.
Come from somewhar up North and built hisself a fine log house up on
the side of the mountains. Hit's full of all the medicines in the world,
too----"

"Will you ask him to come for me?" Mary broke in.

"I'll jump on my hoss an' have him thar in half a' hour. You can run
right back, honey, and look out for the po' ole critter till we get
thar."

"Thank you! Thank you!" she answered grate fully.

"Not at all, not at all!" he protested as he swung through the door
and hurried to the low-pitched sheds in which his horse and cow were
stabled. "Be thar in no time!"

When Mary returned, Nance was still busy in the kitchen. She had built a
fire and put the turkey in the oven.

Mary was counting the minutes now until the doctor should come. The old
woman's prattle about the return of her lost boy, so big and strong and
handsome, had become unendurable. She felt that she should scream and
collapse unless help came at once. She looked at her watch. It was just
thirty-five minutes from the time she had left the cabin in the valley
below.

She sprang to her feet with a smothered cry of joy. The beat of a
horse's hoof at full gallop was ringing down the road.

In two minutes the Doctor's firm footstep was heard at the kitchen door.

Nance turned with a look of glad surprise.

"Well, fur the land sake, ef hit ain't Doctor Mulford! Come right in!"
she cried.

The Doctor seized her hand.

"And how is my good friend, Mrs. Owens, this morning?" he asked
cheerfully.

Mary was studying him with deep interest. She had asked herself the
question a hundred times how much she could tell him--what to say and
what to leave unsaid. One glance at his calm, intellectual face was
enough. He was a man of striking appearance, six feet tall, forty-five
years of age, hair prematurely gray and a slight stoop to his broad
shoulders. His brown eyes seemed to enfold the old woman in their
sympathy.

Nance was chattering her answer to his greeting.

"Oh, I'm feelin' fine, Doctor--" she dropped her voice
confidentially--"and you're just in time for a good dinner. My boy that
was lost has come home. He's a great big fellow, wears fine clothes