e party separated, and Jack started the bay team again.

The house of Judge Edwards was only a short distance farther, and that
of Mrs. Potter was just beyond.

"Mary Ogden," said Miss Glidden in parting, "you must surely accept
Mrs. Edwards's invitation. She is the kindest of women."

"Yes, Miss Glidden," said Mary, demurely.

Jack broke in: "Of course you will. You'll have a real good time, too."

"And you'll come and see me?" said Mrs. Potter, and Mary promised.
Then Jack and the Judge's coachman lowered to the sidewalk Miss
Glidden's enormous trunk.

As Mrs. Potter alighted, a few minutes later, she declared to Mary:

"I'm confident, my dear, that you will experience enthusiastic
hospitality."

"What shall I do?" asked Mary, as they drove away. "Miss Glidden
didn't mean what she said. She is not fond of me."

"The Judge meant it," said Jack. "They liked you. None of them
pressed me to come visiting, I noticed. I'll leave you at Murdoch's
and take the team to the stable, and then go to the office of the
_Eagle_ and see the editor."

But when they reached the Murdochs', good Mrs. Murdoch came to the
door. She kissed Mary, and then said:

"I'm so glad to see you! So glad you've come! Poor Mr. Murdoch--"

"Jack's going to the office to see him," said Mary.

"He needn't go there," said the editor's wife; "Mr. Murdoch is ill at
home. The storm and the excitement and the exposure have broken him
down. Come right in, dear. Come back, Jack, as soon as you have taken
care of the horses."

"It's a pity," said Jack as he drove away. "The _Eagle_ will have a
hard time of it without any editor."

He was still considering that matter when he reached the livery-stable,
but he was abruptly aroused from his thoughts by the owner of the team,
who cried excitedly:

"Hurrah! Here's my team! I say, young man, how did you cross Link's
bridge? A man on horseback just came here and told us it was down. I
was afraid I'd lost my team for a week."

"Well, here they are," said Jack, smiling. "They're both good
swimmers, and as for the carriage, it floated like a boat."

"Oh, it did?" laughed the stable-keeper, as he examined his property.
"Livermore sent you with them, I suppose. I was losing five dollars a
day by not having those horses here. What's your name? Do you live in
Crofield?"

"Jack Ogden."

"Oh! you're the blacksmith's son. Old Murdoch told me about you. My
name's Prodger. I know yo