There followed another murmuring cry. Hiram put his hand on the knob of the door and rattled it. The door, of course, was locked. But he heard the pleading call again. This was no time for etiquette. Nor did he worry about Battick's gun. "It's I, Mr. Battick! Hiram Strong!" he shouted, and then threw his shoulder against the door. The frail bar to his entrance gave way immediately. He was almost catapulted into the room. "What's up?" he cried seeing nobody in the living room of the house. "I'm down, Mr. Strong," croaked Battick's voice from the bedroom. "For pity's sake! what is the matter?" demanded the boy, and hurried to see. Battick was stretched upon his bed, covered in his blankets and shaking with a chill. He could scarcely speak above a whisper and his face was fiery-red with fever. Hiram was deft in attending the sick. He had shown that at the time Orrin Post had first come to Sunnyside. He made Battick as comfortable as possible, leaving drinking water beside him, and then hurried back up the hill. His first thought was to hitch up Jerry and go for a doctor. He believed the man was in a bad way. Then he remembered that Miss Pringle had a telephone. In addition, the spinster was famous as a nurse. Hiram knew that Yancey Battick was in need of nursing as well as of medical attention. "I expect he will give me fits when he gets well for letting Miss Pringle into his house, he hates her so," thought Hiram. "But if I was to be sick that way myself, and could not get Mother Atterson to nurse me, I'd be mighty glad to get Miss Pringle as the next best nurse." So he did not stop at Sunnyside but went on to Miss Pringle's and told his story. Almost immediately the spinster was at the telephone and calling up Doctor Marble. Abigail Wentworth scurried around to pack a basket with the things Delia thought she might need. "You won't be let in. You'll be put out like you were before," declared Abigail in her sputtering way. "That Yance Battick will work some magic on you--" "Nonsense!" exclaimed Miss Pringle. "Yance Battick has got the evil eye," declared Abigail with confidence. "He's got pneumonia, I shouldn't wonder," snapped Miss Pringle. "I'll be glad when Doctor Marble comes. Are you going back with me, Hiram?" "I certainly am, Delia," said the young farm manager. "And if he tries to send you home, I won't let him." But when they got down to the old Pringle homestead Battick was too deep in delirium to recognize Miss Pringle. When Dr. Marble arrived he declared that Hiram had found the man and given the alarm none too soon, if he was to be saved. It was a fight to keep Battick from slipping over the Border. Hiram, or Orrin, or Jim Larry was at the house all the time. Miss Pringle remained night and day. Other neighbors showed an interest in the queer man and Mr. Bronson sent up everything that might be needed and which Battick and his neighbors might not possess when he became convalescent.