“Nonsense, Oakley. I liked you, and it was a pleasure to me to be able to show my regard,” responded the doctor, with hearty good-will. “How is Mrs. Emory--and Miss Emory?” “They are both very well. They were just a little hurt that you ran off without so much as a goodbye.” Oakley gave him a quick glance. “She is--Miss Emory is still in Antioch?” The doctor nodded. “I didn't know but what she might be in the city with you,” Dan explained, with evident disappointment. “Aren't we ever going to see you in Antioch again?” inquired the doctor. He put the question with studied indifference. Dan eagerly scanned his face. The doctor fidgeted awkwardly. “Do _you_ think I'd better go back?” he asked, with a perceptible dwelling on the “you.” The doctor's face became a trifle red. He seemed to weigh the matter carefully; then he said: “Yes, I think you'd better. Antioch would like mightily to lay hands on you.” Dan laughed happily. “You don't suppose a fellow could dodge all that, do you? You see, I was going west to Chicago in a day or so, and I had thought to take a run on to Antioch. As a matter of fact, Cornish wants me to keep an eye on the shops. They are doing well, you know, and we don't want any falling off. But, you understand, I don't want to get let in for any fool hysterics,” he added, impatiently. Notwithstanding the supposed confidence in which telegrams are transmitted, Brown, the day man at Antioch, generally used his own discretion in giving publicity to any facts of local interest that came under his notice. But when he wrote off Dr. Emory's message, announcing that he and Oakley were in Chicago, and would arrive in Antioch the last of the week, he held it for several hours, not quite knowing what to do. Finally he delivered it in person, a sacrifice of official dignity that only the exigencies of the occasion condoned in his eyes. As he handed it to Mrs. Emory, he said: “It's from the doctor. You needn't be afraid to open it; he's all right. He'll be back Saturday night, and he's bringing Mr. Oakley with him. I came up to see if you had any objection to my letting the town know?” Mrs. Emory saw no reason why the knowledge of Oakley's return should be withheld, and in less than half an hour Antioch, with bated breath, was discussing the news on street corners and over back fences.