"She"s worse than ever; but Miss Sniffen won"t hear to calling the doctor. She says if she isn"t any better in the morning she will send for him; but Miss Crilly insists that she can"t live till morning in such agony. Miss Sniffen thinks she is scared to death, and of course fear doesn"t help matters. But she does need a doctor--I know that!"
Miss Sterling began to dress. "Where is Miss Sniffen now?"
"She went downstairs."
"I will keep watch till she gets still, then I"ll go down."
"What can you do?"
"I"m going for Dr. Dudley."
"Suppose she sees you?"
"I know how to run!"
"She might catch you!"
"She shan"t!"
"I"m afraid to let you try it." She lingered irresolute.
"You needn"t. I"ll let myself! Go back to Miss Crilly, and tell her to keep up courage a little longer and I"ll have Dr. Dudley here as soon as I can."
She put on her softest slippers and crept carefully down the stairs. All was dark. Not a sound came to her keen ears. She crossed the hall and reached the heavy front door. Cautiously she pa.s.sed her hand from lock to lock--something squeaked! She frowned, and hastily slid the last bolt--A light flared behind her!
"What are you doing?--Miss Sterling!" Miss Sniffen came quickly towards her.
"I am going for the doctor!" She was out the door.
Miss Sniffen was almost as quick. "Come back!" she cried. "Come back this minute!"
Juanita Sterling was on the long flight of granite steps, so was Miss Sniffen. The lithe little figure ran swiftly along the walk to the street; the pursuer was close behind. The feet ahead seemed heavy and slow; the steps that followed came nearer, nearer! Miss Sterling could almost feel the big hand upon her shoulder! Her heart beat suffocatingly, her ears thundered defeat, she must drop or die! Then she thought of Nelson Randolph and grew strong! She bounded forward--she was nearly there! No, she was only pa.s.sing the corner! On, on, on! She reached the gate, b.u.mped against it, sped along the walk, stumbled up the steps, and pushed the bell b.u.t.ton--not until then did she venture a backward glance.
A tall figure was walking slowly, very slowly up the street!
"Out--of--breath!" she said softly, with a chuckle that was half a sob.
A light flashed inside, and Mrs. Dudley opened the door.
"Why, Miss Sterling!"
"Is--Doctor--home?" she puffed.
"No, he isn"t. He"s out of town. Come in! Somebody sick?"
Mrs. Dudley put her into an easy-chair, felt her pulse, smiled in happy a.s.surance, and waited for the story.
Before it was finished, Polly peeped in.
"I thought it was your voice! What _is_ the matter, Miss Nita?"
She drew up a chair and sat down, folding her crimson robe about her.
Part of the tale was hurriedly retold.
"Doctor may come on the 11.55 train; if not, he can"t get here before one o"clock."
"And Dr. Vera is watching with Dorothy!" cried Polly.
"So I told her," said Mrs. Dudley. "Dorothy is a very sick child; he cannot leave her. I would go over if I thought I could do any good."
"I"m afraid Miss Sniffen wouldn"t let us in." returned Miss Sterling. "I think I"d better call up Mr. Randolph. He said to do it if--there was any trouble." Her face rivaled in color Polly"s robe.
The young girl"s eyes widened.
"When did he--" she began; but her mother interrupted.
"Yes, by all means, telephone!"
Miss Sterling darted into the next room, while Polly sprang to turn on the light.
"Hallo! Is it Mr. Randolph?" came to Polly"s ears. "Juanita Sterling is talking. I am at Dr. Dudley"s. Miss Crilly is very sick, and I came over for the Doctor; but he is out of town. Can you come up? Yes. Yes. Good-bye!--He says he will be here in less than ten minutes." She returned to the chair she had left, and Polly cuddled down beside her, while Mrs. Dudley went to put her dress in better order.
"I"ll stay till he comes," said Polly comfortably. "Then I can run and leave you to let him in--you won"t mind, will you? Do tell me more about that race, Miss Nita. Oh, don"t I wish I had seen it!"
She laughed over the superintendent"s probable discomfiture, and lamented Miss Crilly"s illness.
"It is too bad father isn"t at home," she said musingly; "but, oh.
Miss Nita! what made you think of calling up Mr. Randolph? When did he tell you any such thing?"
"I went to ride with him yesterday," was the quiet answer.
"You did! Wasn"t that lovely! Where did you go?"
"Over to Bryston. We took dinner at Squirrel Inn."
"Oh, my!" chuckled Polly. "What will Blanche Puddicombe say?"
"I don"t care what she says. Polly, he is not engaged lo her."
"He isn"t? Oh, I am so glad, I don"t know what to do! I didn"t want him to be engaged one bit!"
"I didn"t say he wasn"t engaged," returned the other demurely. "I only said he was not engaged to Miss Puddicombe."
Polly"s face fell. "Oh, dear!" she cried in a vexed tone, "I never thought of his being engaged to anybody else! Who is it?--I don"t know that I care, but I may as well know!" Polly looked cross.
Miss Sterling laughed softly. "What a little fire-box you are!"
she said.