The Washington times., 1922-11-05


sinuating head beneath her arm
and licked her wrist.
She pushed him away almost
violently, and stumbled hurriedly
to her knees. As she bent once
more above the unconscious man
the slow rumble of wheels and
plodding hoofs came from the lane
behind her.
The dogs barked, and she looked
up, relief and distress mingling in
her expression. Then she rose.
The driver of the cart, an apple
faced, sturdy old man with mild
blue eyes, had pulled up. From
somewhere in the depths of it a
slow voice grunted sleepy in
quiry.
Sally met the mild eyes and
made a little gesture.
"There has been an accident
she said swiftly. "The cycle over
turned-ne-was thrown into the
ditch. There are flints in it, and
| think he's hurt his head. He
must have attention at once"
She spoke rapidly, but without
excitement or agitation. Only her
face remained very pale and her
mouth was compressed.
The man, getting down slowly
from his seat, looked at her and
scratched his head. His compan-
ion, reused from his slumbers in
the cart, climbed out and stood be-
side him. He, too, scratched his
head. Then he turned and sur
veyed the now silent machine.
"T' cars smashed proper" he
observed with interest. "An' t
dogs hurt his foot"
The injured man stirred and
groaned. Sally bit her lip.
"Get a gate off its hinges" she
commanded abruptly, "and look
sharp! Well have to carry him
up to the cottage-be quick"
She sank softly onto the ground
again while she spoke, and took
Dams head into her lap. She re-
mained very still until they
brought the gate, her eyes upon
the bruised face; then she helped
to lift him up on it.
She made no rejoinder to the
comments and forebodings of the
two men as they made the short
> journey. But she kept her gaze
fixed upon their burden and her
lips were closed very tight.
At the gate of Thurston cottage
they met Billy. Sally looked up
at his startled exclamation and ex-
planned briefly. Her voice did not
shake, but there was that in it
that made him look at her quickly,
with a momentary, puzzled frown.
"Of course, l brought him here"
she finished. Billy did not reply
Immediately. His face was grave
as he looked down at the limp
figure on the gate. A little appre-
hensively he glanced back over his
shoulder. Then he turned and met
Sally's eyes again, and smiled.
"Of coursew he echoed, heartily.
Under the quiet cheerfulness of
his glance the strained look left
her face. She smiled too, waver-
ingly.
eve can telephone for the doc
tor" she said. 81 can do all that
is necessary until he comes. If
Fancy is not up yet there should
be no need to disturb her until we
know if he is badly hurt-it might
upset her."
Billy looked at her quickly. But
she had spoken in all innocence.
So far no whisper of the place
Dan had once held in Fancy's life
had reached Sally Hicks. She
knew nothing of that dramatic re-
turn of his upon the very eve of
Fancy's marriage.
The life they had all of them
led down here during the past few
weeks had been one of almost COM
plete seclusion. For once, despite
her restless, pleasure loving nature,
Fancy h, shown no inclination
for the whirl of worldly things. In
her heart of hearts she knew that
it would not be easy to face the
searching interest of the eyes of
the many who knew her--at least,
not yet. And while she had told
herself sometimes, in a flutter of
rebellious fury, that existence
here, with Fanshawe in constant
attendance, was insufferable, she
had not the courage to end their
stay.