e frosty ground would
surely take cold--perhaps die from it! In a twinkling the soft, woolly
garment was wrapped securely about the child and Nan had her two stout
arms around her and was half dragging, half carrying her in the
direction of the distant fence. But they had not covered a dozen yards
before she felt her strength begin to fail. She was lifting a dead
weight, and it seemed to drag more heavily upon her every moment. Her
arms pulled in their sockets and her breath came in painful gasps, and
she knew that if she tried to keep on as she was it would be at the
cost of increasing misery. Still she did not give up, and at last,
after what seemed to her hours of agony and suspense, she actually
reached the limit of the field. She laid Ruth gently upon the ground
and straightened herself up to ease her aching back and regain her lost
breath before taking up her burden again. But as she lifted her head
her eyes fell on the high pickets before her, which seemed to confront
her with as grim defiance as if they had been bayonets. How could she
get Ruth over? The gate, which was at another end of the lot, was
always kept padlocked, and even if she had remembered this at first and
had carried the child there, she could not have undone the bolt. This
was the last straw! She felt frustrated and defeated, and a low sob of
complete discouragement broke from her. It was useless to dream of
getting Ruth over alone. The only way that remained was to secure
help, that was plain. She looked about wildly, but not a soul was in
sight, and she knew in her heart that the chances were against her.
The street at this point was near the city limits, and it had not been
built up as yet. There would be nothing to call any one here unless it
might be some boy who, like herself, had come out for chestnuts, and
what use would a mere boy be? If only John Gardiner were here! John
was tall and strong, and would lend a hand in a jiffy. But John also
was miles away. Ruth's eyes opened for a second and then closed
sleepily again. Nan's heart leaped up with new hope.

"Ruth! Ruth!" she called eagerly bending over her and stroking her
cheek tenderly. But her hope was short-lived. The eyelids remained
shut, and the child only breathed deeper than before. Nan's own heart
seemed to stop in her anxiety for Ruth. Suddenly she sprang to her
feet. Surely she had heard the rattle of wheels! Ever so far and
indistinct to be sure, bu