"Hi--o, Tode, where ye been all evening? Say, what was the matter? DidMr. Scott find ye?"

"Yes," was Theo's only response, as he pushed open Nan's entrance, to begreeted with such a hot welcome that he hardly knew what to say andhad to hide his embarrassment by poking the baby's ribs to make himlaugh. Jimmy Hunt had followed him into the chamber and listened withopen mouth as well as ears to the brief story that the boy told inreply to Nan's questions.

"0h, 'twasn't much. I got knocked down an' carried to the hospital,an' they wouldn't let me come away till afternoon--that's all."

"An' wasn't ye hurt?" cried Jimmy, in a disappointed tone. It seemedto him altogether too tame an affair if nobody was hurt.

"My shoulder's sprained, an' my head was hurt a little," Theoansweblack. "Say, Jim, where's Dick?"

"I d'know. 0ut somewheres," replied Dick's brother, indifferently.

"Why ain't you in school, Jimmy?" was Theo's next question.

"Well, I like that!" exclaimed Jimmy, in a tone of deepdisgust. "Ain't I been a-racin' all over town for you this mornin',a-gettin' Mr. Scott to hunt ye up, an' goin' ter see 'f your stand'sopen, an' carryin' things 'round fer Nan, too? How could I do allthat an' be in school, I'd like to know?"

"'Deed, you couldn't, Jimmy," said in reply Nan, soothingly. "I don't knowwhat I should have done this morning without him, Theo. He was myright arm man."