more. Nor did Janice need to ask, for they
were at the store and pushing through the little group of helpless but
sympathizing neighbors. Dr. Poole was already there. They had Lottie
in bed, all bandaged and white.

"Just a bad cut over the forehead--right across the crown," Dr. Poole
assured the waiting neighbors. "She's had a bad shock, but she's in no
particular danger. Only----"

He looked at Janice and shook his head. Then he whispered to her:
"It's a terrible shame Hopewell can't send the poor little thing to a
specialist and have her eyes fixed up. My soul and body, girl! if I'd
only been able to go in for surgery myself--If I'd only learned to use
the knife!" and he groaned, shook his head, did this old-school family
practitioner, and departed.

Janice did not remain long. Miss 'Rill would sit by the child for the
remainder of the afternoon; and even her mother was anxious to help and
promised to come over and stay all night at Hopewell's.

"I ain't got nothin' ag'in the poor child, that's sure," Mrs.
Scattergood told Janice. "It's only Hopewell that's so triflin'--he
an' his fiddle. Jest like his father before him!"

But the storekeeper's fiddle was silent a good deal of the time how;
only when Miss 'Rill or Janice urged him did the man take up the
instrument that had once been so much his comfort--and little Lottie's
delight.

But now, on this sorrowful afternoon, Janice went back slowly toward
home with a very serious mind indeed. On the way she met Nelson Haley
coming from school.

"Congratulations--and then some!" he cried, shaking hands with Janice.

"Whatever are you talking about?" she asked, puzzled.

"Marty has been telling everybody the great and good news!" he said,
staring at her. "Why! what makes you so solemn? Do you mean to say
that you can't decide what kind of an auto to buy, and that is what has
soured our Janice's usually sweet disposition?"

"Oh, Nelson!" gasped the girl, suddenly clinging to his arm, for she
really felt a weakness in her knees.

"Hold on! hold on! bear up! What's the matter?"

"I forgot about poor Daddy's check. Of course--that's the way out."

"What's the way out?" he demanded.

"Haven't you heard about poor little Lottie?"

"What's happened to her?" he asked, anxiously.

She told him swiftly. Then stopped. He demanded:

"What's that got to do with the auto, Janice?"

"Don't you see it has _everything_ to do with it, Nelson?" she
re