hare of the red corpuscles; but
you might just as well have the benefit of the hospital corps since we
are on the ground. The red corpuscles," he added, addressing Smiles,
"are the other good little chaps who continually go hurrying through the
body, feeding it with oxygen and making it strong. Run into the house
and get my 'first aid' kit, from my knapsack, child. You'll remember it
when you see it, for I had to dig it out the very first time that I saw
you."

The girl hurried cabinwards, fleet as the wind, and, as the two men sat
down on a woodpile to wait for her, Donald had an opportunity to take
note of his ludicrously inadequate costume.

It seemed little more than a minute before Rose returned with his kit,
but it was not brought by a mountain maid. In that almost incredibly
short time the child had changed her gingham dress for the immaculate
costume of a trained nurse, and the transformation in apparel had been
accompanied by one in mien no less noticeable. Dainty and fair as a
white wild rose she was, yet seriously businesslike in expression.
Donald was startled for a moment. It came to his mind that he was
looking upon a vision of the years to come, and the picture caused his
heart to beat a little faster; but, although the light of appreciation
shone in his eyes, his only comment was, "Are your hands as clean as
that dress?"

"Yes, doctor."

"Now how the deuce did she come to use that stereotyped response?" he
wondered; then said, aloud, "Then undo that roll of gauze bandage and
tear off a piece about six feet long ... be careful! Don't let it touch
the ground."

Then he immediately gave his attention to Big Jerry, and smiled with
professional callousness as he caught the giant's wince when the
antiseptic fluid which he poured on the wound started it smarting.

"Now for your first lesson in the scientific application of a bandage,
Smiles," he said.

Very carefully she followed his directions, and at length the split end
was tied with professional neatness. But, as his fingers tested the
knot, the girl seized one of his hands and exclaimed, with solicitude,
"Why, you're hurt, too, Doctor Mac!"

She indicated on one of his fingers a small jagged tear from which the
blood was slowly oozing.

"How the dickens did I do that?" he demanded in surprise.

"Sliding down the ladder from the loft-room, I reckon. See, there's a
piece of splinter in it still."

"Right-o, Miss Detective." He turned to the ol