"I thought you'd be scandalized. Some of the girls come over to see 'er and the first thing I knowed they was out in the yard playin' leap-frog like a passel o' boys." "That's good for 'em," announced the doctor. "It wasn't very good for Polly." "The shoulder is probably dislocated. I'll be out in a little while and we'll soon fix it." "But a great big girl nearly fourteen years old oughtn't--" "She's all right. Don't you scold her too much." He laughed as he hung up the receiver, then ordered his horse brought round and in a few minutes was on his way to the luckless maiden. * * * * * Ting-a-ling-ling-ling--three rings. "Is this Dr. Blank?" "Yes." "Can you come down to James Curtis's right away?" "Yes--I guess so. What's the matter?" James Curtis stated the matter and the doctor put up the receiver, went to the door and looked out. "Gee-mi-nee! It's as dark as a stack of black cats," he said. In a little while he was off. He had to go horseback and as the horse he usually rode was lame he took Billy who was little more than a colt. Before Mary retired she went to the door and opened it. It was fearfully dark but John had said it was only a few miles. His faithful steed could find the way if he could not. John always got through somehow. With this comforting assurance she went to bed. By and by the 'phone was ringing and she was springing up and hastening to answer it. To the hurried inquiry she replied, "He is in the country." "How soon will he be back?" She looked at the clock. Nearly three hours since he left home. "I expected him before this; he will surely be here soon." A message was left for him to come at once to a certain street and number, and Mary went back to bed. But she could not sleep. Soon she was at the 'phone again, asking central to give her the residence of James Curtis. "Hello." "Is this Mr. Curtis?" "Yes, ma'am." "Is Dr. Blank there?" "He was, but he started home about an hour ago. He ought to be there by this time." "Thank you," said Mary, reassured. He would be home in a little bit then and she went back to her pillow. It was well she could not know that her husband was lost in the woods. The young horse, not well broken to the roads, had strayed from the beaten path. The doctor had first become aware of it when his hat was brushed off by low branches. He dismounted, and holding the bridle on one arm, got down on hands and knees and began feeling about with both hands in the blackness. It seemed a fruitless search, but at last he found it and put it securely on his head. He did not remount, but tried to find his way back into the path.