"Mercy gra--why, that's Carruthers bein' a steam whistle. Did he scare you? He does do it pretty loud when he's gettin' up steam; you see, he don't know how loud he does it, because he's deaf o' hearin'. We can't bear to lower him, but we only let him be a steam whistle for a treat--when he's 'specially good--Mother said to. Stefana found him washin' his face 'free greatest' this mornin', so she let him--.Quick, shut your ears! He's goin' off again!" 'But, this time, Miss Theodosia heard, unalarmed. To her own surprise, she listened almost enjoyingly. To be able to make a noise like that! The sheer vitality and youth of it compelled admiration. "If I could do that--" began Miss Theodosia's thought, then broke off hastily as the mental vision of herself in the act of bein' a steam whistle appeared to her. "You do it this way," explained Evangeline, inserting a forefinger in each corner of her mouth and preparing to steam-whistle. "No, no, I don't do it any way!" Miss Theodosia protested smilingly. "Do you think--do you think, perhaps, he has been sufficiently rewarded for washing his own face, now? Because, you see, I have callers on my porch." "Mercy gracious--I see 'em! I'll go right an' stop Carruthers! That's what Stefana said--that we'd ought to remember you wasn't in Europe now." "I think I could hear steam whistles there!" Miss Theodosia smiled. But Evangeline's sober mind continued its line of thought. "Stefana says if you'll hang somethin' red out when you're asleep, or got callers, or anythin', then she'll make us play funeral." "Oh, no--not that!" No red flag of warning could justify playing funeral. "Well, Hold-Your-Breath, then. We can't make much noise holding our breaths! Stefana's the champion Hold-Your-Breath-er. You take an awful long breath--this way--" But, already, Miss Theodosia was on her way home. She found her callers moving agitatedly about. "Central asked what doctor, and for the life of me I couldn't remember a living doctor's name in this town. 'Anybody,' I told her. 'Tell him to come quick; somebody must be dying over to the little Flagg place." Miss Theodosia lifted a hand to stem the tide of Mrs. Andrew's words. "He's stopped dying--listen! It's all quiet now; it was only play. I'll head Central off. Excuse me a minute--I mean, another minute!" But Central had done her work well--beyond heading-off. Already an automobile was speeding up the road; behind it clattered a hurriedly-driven buggy. Miss Theodosia saw them both stopping at the little Flagg place. She smiled. She was not needed over there to make any explanations or apologies--Evangeline was there! CHAPTER III She sat on her porch after the visitors had gone, thinking strange Miss Theodosia thoughts. A man, coming up her front path and lifting a soft felt hat, interrupted the strangest thought of all. "I beg your pardon. Is this where somebody needs help? I was told--" Miss Theodosia laughed outright.