He turned and left the room without more word of parting than he had shown of greeting. He walked more alertly than ever he had in his life. He found Wid Gardner and told his news. His neighbor listened to him gravely. "It may be only some people in there fishing," said Wid, "but it's no time to take chances. You say the wire's down? That looks so bad, I reckon you'd better ride on down. How far have you rode today?" "Round thirty, forty miles." "Forty more won't hurt you none," said Wid. "The roan bronc can stand it. I'll go on over and tell the women folks not to be afraid." "Gee, but this is some quiet place!" said Annie Squires, as the two women sat alone in nervous silence. "You can cut it with a knife, can't you?" "Did you say Mr. Gardner was coming over here before long?" asked Mary. "Annie, I'm so afraid!" "Hush, Sis! It's like enough only a scare. I wish't that doctor man had stayed. But tell me, was he saying anything to you about your eyes?" "Yes." "What?" "He said he was coming up here in a week or two to take me down to the hospital. He said he thought perhaps he could save my eyes! Oh, Annie, Annie!" "Hush, Sis! I told you to forget it. You mustn't hope--remember, you _mustn't_ hope, Mary, whatever you do." "No, I mustn't hope. I told him I wouldn't go." "Some folks is grand little jokers. Women can't help stringing a man along, can they? Of course you'll go." She cast her arms about Mary Gage, and held her tight. "You poor kid!" said she. "You get your eyes first, and let's figure out the rest after that. You make me tired. Cut out all that duty and sacrifice stuff. Live and get yours. That's the idea!" "Now, you sit here." She rose and placed a comforting hand on Mary's shoulder. "Just keep quiet here, and I'll go out and see if I can call Henry Gardner. He seems to me like a man that wouldn't scare easy. I'll go as far as the fence and yoo-hoo at him. I'll be right back." But Annie Squires did not come back for almost an hour. Wid Gardner, coming across lots by the creek path, found Mary Gage alone, and sat with her there in an uneasiness he could not himself conceal, wondering over the girl's absence. Mary was well-nigh beside herself when at length they heard Annie coming rapidly, saw her at the door. "Get back in!" she said. "Sit down, both of you! Wait, now--Listen! Who do you think I found right out here, almost in our very yard, Mary?" Panting, she seated herself, and after a time began more coherently. "I'll tell you. I just walked out to the gate, and says I to myself, I'll yoo-hoo so that Mr. Gardner can hear over there and come on down. So I yoo-hooed. Did you hear me?" Wid shook his head. "I didn't hear nothing."