yet the Colonel still talked on as
quietly as before.

When the door opened, Polly saw his fingers grip the arms of his
chair. His voice faltered off into silence.

Dr. Dudley stepped aside, and David's mother appeared on the
threshold, a little slight, fair-haired woman, her face now pink
with emotion, her eyes big and shining.

The held out both hands; there was a swish of skirts an something
like a sob.

Polly heard, "Eva!"--"Oh, Uncle David!" Then she slipped out
to the Doctor, and he softly shut the door.

They went downstairs hand in hand, and so to the street.

"We'll have a little ride," he proposed, "to let off steam.
There are n't any patients that will hurt by waiting."

The car passed slowly up the pleasant street.

"Thistledown," he said tenderly, "you have accomplished a
blessed work this morning."

"Why," exclaimed Polly, in surprise, "I have n't done a single
thing--only go after David! It's the Colonel that's done it
all! But is n't it splendid of him? Are n't you glad for
David?"

"I am glad for them all. It is what I feared never would come to
pass. Colonel Gresham is sure to like David, and it is going to
mean everything for the boy."

Chapter XII

The Kidnapping of Polly

"Mamma and I are going to live with Uncle David." So the boy told
Polly late that afternoon. "He says he has lost time enough, and
now we must come as soon as we can pack up."

"Is n't that splendid!" beamed Polly, thinking she had never
seen David look so happy or so handsome.

"Uncle David is nicer--a great deal nicer--than I dreamed
he could be. O Polly, I can't thank you enough!"

"Thank me?" repeated Polly. "What for?"

"Polly May!" and David gazed at her incredulously. Then he
laughed.

"Oh, you little bunch of unselfishness!" he cried. "I believe
you have n't the least idea that Uncle David's making up with us
is all your doing!"

"Why, David Collins, it is n't! I just told him it would make me
happy if he would--that's all!"

"Just as I said!" he laughed. "O Polly, Polly! Don't you see--
no, no, I'd rather you would n't! Don't try to see!"

"I could n't!" chuckled Polly. "There is n't anything to see!"

"All right! It's grand anyway! Mamma looks so much prettier and
younger! Oh, you can't think how happy--"

The telephone cut off his sentence, and he ran across the office.

He listened a moment; then Polly heard him say, "She is right
here. If you'll wait, please, I'll