"But then----" concluded Annie. CHAPTER XXVII DORENWALD, CHIEF Mary Gage, sitting alone in her cabin, could hear the hum of voices as Wid Gardner and Annie Squires talked together in the open sunlight. Presently she heard the footfall of Annie as she came to the door. "Well, Sis," said that cheerful individual, "how are you getting on?" "Couldn't you come in for a while, Annie? I'm very lonesome. What were you talking about?" "I just told that man out there I'm going to take you back home." Mary Gage sat silent for a time. "We'll have to get a better solution than that." "It's a fine little solution you've got so far, ain't it now?" commented Annie. "Highbrows always have to lean on the lowbrows, more or less. You listen to me." "Sometime, I suppose," she went on after a moment's pause, "I'll have to talk right out with you. For instance, you being a farmer's wife! Now, as for me, I was raised on a farm. When I was ten years old I was milking five cows every day. When I was twelve I was sitting up at night knitting socks for the other kids. That was before I got the idea of going to the white lights after my career. Well, it's lucky I met you, like enough. But me once talking of getting married to Charlie Dorenwald! I should admire to see him, me handy to a flat iron." "But, Annie, I'd die if it wasn't for some one to help me all the time. Some pay for that with money. How can I pay for it at all? Tell me, Annie." She turned suddenly. "If I--if I could get my eyesight back again, what ought I to do?" "I wouldn't talk about that, Sis, if I was you. But just wait, there's some one coming--it's him." Mary could hear Sim Gage's rapid step as he came around to the door, pausing no more than to throw down his horse's bridle over its head. Sim Gage was excited. "Where's the Doc?--he been here this morning?" "He went away less than an hour ago," replied Mary Gage. "How long was it, Annie? Why?" "Well, I got to go down to the dam. Something up in the hills I don't like." "Not those same men?" Mary Gage's face showed terror. "I don't know yet. Two cars was in camp on the creek, half way up towards the Reserve. I seen 'em and sneaked back." "Telephone down, why don't you?" "I hadn't thought of that," said Sim. "I ain't used to them things. Say, Miss Squires, supposin' you see if you can get the doctor down at the dam?" But when Annie tried to use the telephone her ring sounded idle and vacant in the box. The instrument was dead. "Out of order!" said Annie, "right when you want it. When you want to make a date the girls says, 'Party's line's out of order.' Of course it is!" "Well, then I'll have to start down right away. I got to see the Doc about this. I hate to leave you alone." "Let him go," said Annie to Mary Gage. "The soldiers 'll be back for supper pretty soon." "I've got to go over to Wid's," said Sim; "got to get another horse."