elf, then brother will send you home."

The room was dim, but Matilda's eyes were keen, and she saw two large
tears roll from under the closed lids and down upon the thin cheeks.
Because of her understanding of boys, Matilda did not interfere with
those mute tokens of weak surrender. Better the traces on the dirty
skin than a later misunderstanding, but as the tears took their way a
childless woman's pity and tenderness was following them mutely.

"You can't sleep? Well now, never mind. Just don't fuss." Then
inspiration came again.

"Maybe you'd like to see your dog, he's just outside. He won't eat or
drink and his nose is everlastingly pointed to the door."

At this Sandy's eyes opened so suddenly and so wide that Matilda
Markham started. She had never seen such large eyes in any human boy's
face and they were such strange, yearning eyes.

"You _do_ want your dog?"

"Yes, ma'am! oh, yes!"

Without a word more, Matilda strode to the door.

"Brother," she said; "we want that dog here!"

Bob leaped up and followed his instincts. He made no noise or cry, he
simply went to the low couch, and snuggled his rough head against the
shoulder pressed on the pillow.

Matilda Markham could not bear the sight. It made her afraid of
herself. Her brother, above all people, must not think her emotional.
She knew what he thought of emotional women--he not only believed them
incapable, but he mistrusted their moral natures. She walked out to
the porch and sat grimly down in a rocker and swayed back and forth
energetically.

"It's real hot," she vouchsafed presently. "This is a terrible shut-in
place. I haven't any use for mountains unless you can get on the
toppest peak."

"Has that boy explained himself?" asked Levi Markham, also swaying to
and fro in his rocker. Matilda shook her head.

"What do you think we ought to do? I've been inquiring a bit and I
find there is no police station nor hospital nearer than twenty-five
miles. I asked the man at Stagg's what they did when men were injured
in the factory, and he looked at me as if he thought I was a fool!
'They don't do anything to them,' he confided. It's an evil hole,
Matilda. I never saw a place in my life that needed capital and human
intelligence more. And what about this boy? He must belong somewhere,
I suppose."

"I think he's pretty sick, brother; I guess we'll have to turn to and
supply what the town lacks in ambulances and hospitals. He's