Dan and John Tucker came into the stable, a sturdy, handsome pair. I was warmly greeted (I, too, had been Don Tutter's Dal when time was) and allowed to lead Dan into his stall. I hurried to the harness room in time to hear Kitty's confession, she standing like a schoolgirl with her hands behind her, John Tucker in that state of glowing pride in her that he could hardly take in the situation. "John Tucker, dear, I have bought a horse!" "You have, Miss Kitty? You _have_? Well, to be sure! the spirit of you! I'll bet he's a good one." "He's a miracle, John! A beautiful bright bay, with a star on his forehead, and four white stockings; you know I never could abide odd stockings." "No, Miss! To be sure not. Where did you get him, if I may make so bold, Miss Kitty?" "Don't talk about making bold, John Tucker. It's I who have been making bold. I am scared out of my wits, you know I am, but he _is_ such a beauty! Let's sit down, John Tucker dear, and I'll tell you all about it." Perched sidewise on the arm of a chair, her hands clasped on her knee, her chin tilted up, Kitty was so enchanting an object that I could not wonder at John Tucker's fatuous expression. Probably if she had told him of the purchase of a giraffe or an elephant, he would have looked no less fatuous. As it was---- "You see, John," Kitty began slowly, taking out a hatpin and jabbing it into the arm of the chair to punctuate her remarks, "I took Mr. Chanter to see a poor old Thing who is sick, and in trouble besides; sad trouble, I'm afraid. Her son hasn't been doing well lately; but--well--he is a good son to her, only he has been unfortunate. He deals in horses----" John Tucker looked up. "What was the name, did you say, Miss?" "I didn't say, John Tucker dear, but the name is Boody; Mrs. L. M. Boody. Her son is L. M., too. I don't know----" "Ellum Boody: Slippery Ellum!" murmured John Tucker. "Scuse me, Miss Kitty. Luke his name is, but he's known like I say. Scuse me, Miss Kitty!"