d brain. She was a
prisoner! Why? What had she done? Wasn't that woman kind? And did not
the man go to the spring for water? She heard him say so, and he was a
feeble old man. Why was she locked--barred in that smothering attic
room?

She picked up a heavy block that lay near, and with it rapped
vigorously on the bare floor.

A shuffling of feet on the stairs told that she had been heard, and
presently the not unkindly face of Samanthy Hobbs made its way into
the room.

"Why am I locked in?" gasped Dorothy. "Why do you not let me go back
to my friends?"

"Hush there, now, dearie," and she smoothed the hand that lay idly on
the red and white quilt, as Dorothy stood beside the bed. "You'll be
all right. Don't you go and get bothered. We've sent fer the doctor,
and when he comes, he'll fetch you right home to your maw. But you
have got to keep quiet, or else the fever will set in, and then
there's no tellin'. I told Josiah that we would do fer you like as if
you was our'n, but you must not talk, dearie. You must be mournful
still."

[Illustration: "WHY AM I LOCKED IN?" GASPED DOROTHY. _Dorothy Dale's
Camping Days Page 116_]

Dorothy looked keenly into the face that leaned over her. What did it
mean? Whom did they take her to be?

"Do you know who I am?" she ventured.

"Why of course we do, lovey. But don't you bother to talk. The doctor
will be here in the morning, and he'll take you back to your maw."

"I have no mother," sighed Dorothy. "I am a stranger around here, and
I hope you will not keep me from my friends. They are probably looking
for me now."

"Course they be. But now a little chicken soup? No? Then a sip of tea.
It's revivin'. Josiah! Josiah! Come with that milk! How long does it
take to milk a brindle cow?"

The fresh milk was brought, and crowded upon the already well-filled
wooden chair.

"Thank you very much," murmured Dorothy, "but I cannot eat or drink. I
must go to my friends!"

In spite of her will the tears came. At the sight of them the woman
shuffled off. Evidently tears were too much for Samanthy Hobbs.

"I'll leave you a candle--no, I guess I had better jest raise the
lattice, and if you wants anything I'll hear you if you knocks. Don't
you worry, dearie. Samanthy Hobbs ain't no--well, she ain't, that's
all!"

Then Dorothy was alone--all alone in the stuffy room. Could she
escape; get out of a window--anything to be in the free open air, and
to run--run back to dear old camp