"Why, the good it will do is that that old nigger of yours--Joe, you call him--will tackle up, she'll tie on her bunnet, hop into the wagon, and away for Dr. Green's office in Antonito, and she'll set as still as a mouse while the doctor yanks out that tooth; that's the good it'll do." "Yes, that might all be if Joe wasn't away with the team." "Wal', that does rather spoil my program. Goin' to be gone all day, is he?" "Yes; maybe for two or three days. He's gone up to the Archer settlement on the Jerusalem trail." "Oh, has he? Wal', now!" Mr. Horton had been sitting all this time with the reins in one hand, his hat in the other. He now replaced the hat on his head and stood up. He remained standing so, motionless, for more than a minute, gazing steadfastly at his horses' ears, while his brow puckered and his small eyes narrowed like those of a person in deep thought. Finally he exclaimed: "Say, I tell you how we'll fix it. You all get in here with me and come over to my house. Maria, she'll be sure to think of something to ease that tooth the minute she claps eyes on ye; then, in the mornin', she or I'll take ye over to the doctor's office, and bring ye home afterward. Hey, what do you say, Miss Jessie?" for Jessie had by this time come out of the gate, with Ralph clinging to her hand. Jessie, the pain of her aching tooth dulled for the moment by sheer amazement, said that he was very kind. She said it almost timidly. We had had so little reason hitherto to look for any neighborly kindness at Mr. Horton's hands. "Then ye'll go?" Mr. Horton insisted. Jessie looked inquiringly at me. Her face was swollen and her eyes red with crying. "Yes, Jessie, do go. There's no knowing when Joe will be back, and you--" "Why, you'd better all come," Mr. Horton interposed again. "There's two seats in the wagon--plenty of room. Here, where's the little shaver's hat? Get your hat and climb in here, youngster." Ralph, who was enterprising and fearless, obeyed without protest. Peremptorily declining Mr. Horton's invitation to sit with him, he took his station on the back seat, and from that vantage urged his sisters to make haste. "Come, 'Essie, us yeady." Jessie ran in and got her hat, tossed her old coat over her shoulders without stopping to put her arms in the sleeves, and, by aid of the wheel, mounted to the seat beside Ralph. I, too, had put on my hat, but waited to secure the windows, and then to get the door-key. Mr. Horton, sitting silent on the front seat, observed my proceedings with interest; "You're awful careful, ain't ye?" he said, at length, and, in spite of his friendliness, it seemed to my sensitive fancy that there was a sneer in his voice. However, that did not greatly trouble me, for, from my slight speaking acquaintance with him before this, I had come to believe that he never spoke without one, so I replied, cheerfully: "Yes; I guess I am careful enough."