Part 22

"I don't want to suppose it," said Alexia, wriggling. "Ugh! you do say such uncomfortable things, Polly Pepper."

"I know it." Polly swallowed hard, and held Alexia's hand tighter than ever. "Well, I won't talk of it any more."

The governess, who had moved away a bit, now came back with vexation plainly written all over her face. "I must go and see if there isn't some way to get a message to Grandpapa King, Alexia," said Polly. "I'll be back as soon as I can." She dropped a kiss on the nearest cheek.

"Don't be gone long," begged Alexia.

"I will go with you," said the governess, stepping off after her.

"Very well," said Polly, going swiftly down the aisle, to see below the car steps a crowd of passengers all in a tumult, and vociferating angrily. In the midst of them, Polly saw the face of the doctor who had just fixed Alexia's arm.

"Oh sir," she began.

He looked up, and caught sight of the brown eyes. "Is the little girl worse?" And he sprang over toward her.

Polly, not stopping to think how furious Alexia would be, who was quite the tallest of their set, to be designated as a little girl, made haste to say, "Oh no, sir; but oh, could you tell me how to let my grandpapa and my mother know we are safe? Could you, sir?" Poor Polly, who had held up so bravely, was clasping her hands tightly together, and the brown eyes were full of tears.

"Well, you see," began the doctor, hating to disappoint her, "it's a difficult matter to get in communication with them at once. We are only five miles out, but--"

"Five miles?" echoed Polly. "Oh then, some one can go to the nearest station, and telephone, can't they, sir?"

"To be sure; and that's been done. But your family, little girl--how can we reach them?"

"Oh, I can run," cried Polly happily, "to the station myself, sir," and she began to clamber down the car steps.

"Come back," commanded the governess, lifting her hands in horror. "I never heard of such a thing. The very idea! What would your grandfather, Mr. King, say to such a thing, Polly Pepper?"

"Mr. who?" cried the doctor. "Stay, little girl," seizing her arm. "Mr. who?" he demanded, looking up to the governess on the car steps.

"Mr. Horatio King," she replied with asperity, "and you'd better be occupied with something else, let me tell you, sir, instead of encouraging his granddaughter to run off on such a wild-goose errand as this."

"I certainly shall take pleasure in performing the wild-goose errand myself," he said. "Now Polly, I'll send the message; don't you worry," and he sped off down the track.

VII THE SALISBURY GIRLS

And then somebody rushed in, saying, "We've another locomotive; now we're going!" And everybody else who was outside hurried into the cars; the new propelling power was attached to the other end of the train, and after a deal of switching, there they were at last--off on the way home!

Polly gave a long breath of relief, and clasped Alexia's hand closely. "Oh, by this time they know at home it's all right," she cried.

The doctor came smilingly down the aisle. "Well," he nodded to Polly. "Yes, it's all right," he said. "I must really call you Polly Pepper now, for I know your grandfather, and Dr. Fisher--well there! indeed I know him."

"Do you?" cried Polly with blooming cheeks, well pleased to find a friend at such a time.

"Yes, indeed. I'm fortunate enough to meet him in hospital work. Now then, how is our little friend here?" He leaned over, and touched Alexia's arm lightly.

"Oh, I'm all right," she said.

"That's good," in a gratified tone. "Now keep plucky, and you'll get out of this finely." Then he sat down on the arm of the seat, and told such a funny story that no one supposed it could be the home station when the train came to a standstill, and he was helping Alexia out.

"There now--drop Polly's hand, if you please," the doctor was saying; "I'll assist you."

"But I don't want to," said Alexia, hanging to it for dear life. "I want Polly."

"I presume so," laughed the doctor, "but I think it's best for me to help you." Miss Baker and all the girls crowded up in a bunch. "Easy there," he said. "Don't hurry so; there's plenty of time." And he got between them and Alexia's lame arm.