ut then it might have been
worse, because my neck is worth more to me than my ankle. But now I
do hope you can get me home. I never wanted to see home and mother
one-half as much as now."

"Yes, we've come in the big car, K. K.," Hugh assured him. "And
we'll fetch you home right away. You ought to be looked after by
Doctor Wambold; broken bones are not things to be trifled with, and
while this party seems to have done the best he could it can only be
a makeshift."

"Don't you believe it, Hugh," said the injured boy warmly; "why, he's
a regular jim-dandy about such jobs. I bet you he used to be an army
surgeon in his younger days, from hints he's let drop. And then he
knows the Signal Corps work right off the handle to boot, even
if--well, I won't say what I meant to. He's been so kind and
considerate to me; my own father couldn't have been more tender.
I've guessed the secret of the old haunted quarry, Hugh!" which last
he almost whispered in the other's ear.

"Yes, I can say the same," muttered Hugh, "because, as soon as I saw
that he was using the regular army code of signals, I remembered
about hearing how a certain family over near Hackensack had an uncle
who used to be in the Signal Corps and was also later on an army
surgeon, but who had suffered a sunstroke, and, well, was said to be
a bit queer."

"Yes," whispered K. K., "this is the same party. His name, I
remember, was Dr. Coursens, and there was some talk last summer about
his having got loose from the house and being drowned, they believed,
in the river, though his body was never found. Just to think of it,
he's been hiding here ever since, picking up his living almost like a
wild animal. Why, right now his clothes are nearly falling off his
back, and if he tries to hang out here much longer he'll be frozen to
death. But, Hugh, we must let his folks know where he is so they can
come after him. I believe, his mind is beginning to get a little
clear again, for at times he talks quite reasonably."

This was all mighty interesting to Hugh, and he determined that he
would let no grass grow under his feet until he had seen to it that
the man with the deranged mind was once more restored to his family.
But the first thing to be done was to get poor K. K. safely back home.

So he turned to the man and spoke to him, telling him that they
wished to get their comrade to the car, and at the same time thanking
him warmly for all he had done. Not a si