d the door, but she was beside him
instantly protesting.

"Stop!" she commanded firmly. "If you do that it will be the worse for
you. Put your hand on my shoulder!"

In the darkness he could see her eyes flash with determination, and so
without further objection he placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, and
in this manner they made their way through the door and into the cabin.
Once inside the door he halted, blinking at the light and undecided.
But she promptly led him toward another door, into a room containing a
bed. She led him to the bedside and stood near him after he had sunk
down upon it.

"You are to sleep here to-night," she said. "To-morrow, if you are
considerably better, I may allow you to travel." She went out,
returning immediately with a small bottle containing medicine. "If you
feel worse during the night," she directed, "you must take a spoonful
from that bottle. If you think you need anything else, don't hesitate
to call. I shall be in the next room."

He started to voice his thanks, but she cut him short with a laugh.
"Good-night," she said. Then she went out and closed the door after
her.

He awoke several times during the night and each time took a taste of
the medicine in the bottle. But shortly after midnight he fell into a
heavy sleep, from which he did not awaken until the dawn had come. He
lay quiet for a long time, until he heard steps in the kitchen, and
then he rose and went to the door, throwing it open and standing on the
threshold.

She was standing near the table, a coffee pot in her hand. Her eyes
widened as she saw him.

"Oh!" she exclaimed. "You are very much better!"

He smiled. "I'm thankin' you for it, ma'am," he returned. "I cert'nly
wouldn't have been feelin' anything if I hadn't met you when I did."

She put the coffee pot down and looked gravely at him.

"You were in very bad shape when you came," she admitted. "There was a
time when I thought my remedies would not pull you through. They would
not had you come five minutes later."

He had no reply to make to this, and he stood there silent, until she
poured coffee into a cup, arranged some dishes, and then invited him to
sit at the table.

He needed no second invitation, for he had been twenty-four hours
without food. And he had little excuse to complain of the quality of
the food that was set before him. He ate in silence and when he had
finished he turned away from the table to see the girl