ight be too late. "We must make him
vomit," she said to red-eyed Mercedes, who had come out of her
hiding-place to see what was the cause of all the commotion.

"But how?"

"I don't know myself what emetic would be best. They use mustard and
warm water for some poisons, and--oh, I remember! Bring me that
three-cornered, blue bottle from the cupboard, Susie. Hurry! Your
mother told me to use plenty of that if any of you got poisoned.
Mercedes, light the stove and set on the tea kettle. Inez, get the
boy's bed ready, and Irene, bring some clean towels from the closet."

Tabitha had suddenly grown calm again, and as she issued orders to the
panic-stricken sisters, she was deftly at work herself, pouring the
vile-tasting emetic down poor, unresisting Toady's throat. She worked
hard and furiously, fearful that her efforts might fail, and her heart
sank within her as she watched the white face grow whiter and listened
to the weak moans which escaped his lips with every breath.

Would the doctor never come? The suspense was horrible. When it
seemed as if she must scream with frenzy, the five watchers on the
door-step shouted wildly, "He's coming, he's coming! Billiard found
him and he's got his v'lise!"

Another instant and he was in the kitchen kneeling beside the limp form
on the floor, and working as he questioned. It was over at last, the
boy was pronounced out of danger, and Tabitha, weak and trembling, felt
her strength suddenly ooze from her limbs.

"Here, here, none of that!" commanded the physician in gruff but kindly
tones. "There is no use of fainting now, my girl, when you have done
your work so well. But for your efforts before I got here, the chap
might have been--well, he can thank his lucky stars that he is in the
land of the living."

Perhaps Toady heard, for when Tabitha bent over him a few moments
later, the brown eyes fluttered weakly open, and the repentant sinner
murmured, "How is Glory?"

"Better. She will be well by morning. But you mustn't talk now."

"Yes, I must, 'cause I made her sick. I burgled--that is, I pretended
I was a burglar last night and hid under your bed. I only meant to
scare you, though. Honest!"

"Sh! I know all about it. Go to sleep now, Toady." When seeing an
unspoken question in his eyes, she answered, "No, Glory didn't give you
away. I found it out myself."

"The constable----"

"I never went for him at all. He doesn't know a thing about it."