t
trouble."

"I've got something!" insisted Miss Crilly, writhing with pain.

Miss Sniffen appeared at the door with a bowl of steaming water and
a bundle of cloths. "I'm going to put these on," she announced
briskly.

"I tried hot water first thing," said Mrs. Albright. "It didn't do
any good."

The superintendent gave no response. She was busy administering
the remedy.

"Don't make such a fuss!" she reprimanded. "Pain never killed
anybody yet."

"You'd better go back to your room, Miss Sterling," she turned to
say. "No need of your staying here."

There did not seem to be, and the request was obeyed without reply.

Later Mrs. Albright came upstairs to say that Miss Crilly was a
little easier. "I think she's going to get on now," she concluded.

"I hope so," was the reply; "but call me if she should grow worse."

"Yes, I will,--though you couldn't do any good," she amended.

"I could get a doctor for her."

"I don't see how!" Mrs. Albright gazed questioningly into the
steady gray eyes. This was a new Miss Sterling. "You can't do
anything with Miss Sniffen."

"There are other people in the world besides Miss Sniffen. If she
needs a doctor she shall have one. So let me know if the pain
comes on again."

Miss Sterling had been abed an hour or more when she was awakened
by a gentle rap.

Mrs. Albright softly opened the door.

"She's worse than ever; but Miss Sniffen won't hear to calling the
doctor. She says if she isn't any better in the morning she will
send for him; but Miss Crilly insists that she can't live till
morning in such agony. Miss Sniffen thinks she is scared to death,
and of course fear doesn't help matters. But she does need a
doctor--I know that!"

Miss Sterling began to dress. "Where is Miss Sniffen now?"

"She went downstairs."

"I will keep watch till she gets still, then I'll go down."

"What can you do?"

"I'm going for Dr. Dudley."

"Suppose she sees you?"

"I know how to run!"

"She might catch you!"

"She shan't!"

"I'm afraid to let you try it." She lingered irresolute.

"You needn't. I'll let myself! Go back to Miss Crilly, and tell
her to keep up courage a little longer and I'll have Dr. Dudley
here as soon as I can."

She put on her softest slippers and crept carefully down the
stairs. All was dark. Not a sound came to her keen ears. She
crossed the hall and reached the heavy front door. Cautiously she
passed her hand from lock to l