ell, old boy! is this you?" he exclaimed; "Great Scott! what have
you been doing to yourself these two years?"

"Plenty of time for explanations later," said Darrell, shaking hands
heartily; "Ned, I want you to know my father; father, this is my old
chum, now Dr. Elliott."

The young physician's face betrayed astonishment, but he shook hands
with Mr. Britton with no remarks beyond the customary greeting.

"Now, Ned," continued Darrell, "get us out of this mob as quickly as you
can; I don't want to be recognized here."

"Not much danger with that white pate of yours; but come this way, my
carriage is waiting. I did not let out that you were coming back, for I
thought you wouldn't want any demonstration from the crowd here, so I
told no one but father; he's waiting for you in the carriage."

"You're as level-headed as ever," Darrell remarked.

They reached the carriage, greetings were exchanged with Mr. Elliott,
and soon the party was driving rapidly towards the village.

"We will go at once to my office," Dr. Elliott remarked to Darrell, who
was seated beside himself; "we can make arrangements there as to the
best method of breaking this news to your mother."

"You have told her nothing, then?" Darrell inquired.

"No; life has so many uncertainties and she has already suffered so
much. You had a long journey before you; if anything had happened to
detain you, it was better not to have her in suspense."

"You were right," Darrell replied; "you know I left all that to your own
judgment."

"Darrell, old boy," said the doctor, inspecting his companion
critically, "do satisfy my curiosity: is that white hair genuine or a
wig donned for the occasion?"

"What reason could I have for any such masquerading?" Darrell demanded;
"when you come to know my experience for the past two years you will not
wonder that my hair is white."

"I beg your pardon, old fellow; I meant no offence. We had all given you
up for dead--all but your mother; and your telegram nearly knocked me
off my feet."

Here the doctor drew rein, and, fastening the horses outside, they
entered his office, a small, one-story building standing close to the
street in one corner of the great dooryard of his father's home, and
sheltered alike from sun and storm by giant maples.

After brief consultation it was decided that as Dr. Elliott and his
father were frequent callers at the Jewett home, the entire party would
drive out there, and, in the probable