een the best
and truest friend my wife ever had. We owe her everything, and feel that
we cannot leave her to land in a strange city, broken in mind and body,
without her 'daughter' to care for her. We must go, for I don't want
Lady Gray to take the trip and responsibility without me. If all goes
well, we should be back in less than a fortnight--could be much sooner
except that Lady Gray wants to bring Aunt Rachel to San Leon; and we
will have to make the return journey by very easy stages, as her
strength will allow. It is trying, too, that, having learned of our trip
east, Miss Milliken insists upon returning with us. She hasn't been
happy here and I find she's worrying about her heart. The altitude of
San Leon is bad for her, she thinks, and since she puts it on that
ground neither Erminie nor I can urge her to remain. But--"

"'But,' don't you worry a minute, dear Uncle Dan!" cried Dorothy,
clasping her hands around his arm and using the title he had asked for
many times, though she had rarely done so before. All along, despite his
great generosity and kindness, she had stood just a little in awe of the
"Railroad Boss," and he had been simply "Mr. Ford" to her as well as to
all his other young guests. But it needed only one look of anxiety on
his noble face to rouse all her loving sympathy. She repeated: "Don't
you, nor sweet Lady Gray, worry one single minute about us or things up
here at San Leon. We'll be as good as good! Helena, here, is a better
caretaker than poor Miss Milly. Between ourselves, we're glad she's
going. She's been a burden to Nell, all the time, instead of a help. I'm
sorry about her heart but--I'm glad she's going. Now--when do you start?
Isn't there something I--we--can do to help you off? Do let us help!"

The gentleman's face had lightened. His girl guests had accepted the
situation beautifully, and he could but hope as much for the lads. In
any case he must go; and, indeed, at once. He was so pressed for time
that they disliked to trouble him with the message the lamb had brought,
and watched him walk swiftly away without a further word.

"Huh! He needn't be afraid we'll do anything we oughtn't! And I don't
see as we're going to be so much alone, after all. There's the trained
nurse, and though the doctor's gone to Denver he'll come back."

"She's sick herself, this last day or so, Alfy. We mustn't count on her
nor on Dr. Jones. But there's Mr. Robson, Captain Lem, Anita, Wun
Sing--and lo