“But you did not let me know you were in New Haven.”
“You’ll find a letter when you get back to town. I dropped one in the office for you.”
“But Frank knew you were here.”
“He did not know I was coming. Oh, Bart, you should have seen him fling himself at the heads of those snorting, terrified horses and bring them to a stop! It was grand, and it was just like him!”
Admiration for Frank thrilled her; Hodge saw it in her face and heard it in her voice.
“She loves him still!” he told himself, his heart sinking.
“Then there was no harm done?” asked the “strong man,” seeming awakened at last to the possibility that the runaway might have resulted in damage.
“None, save to the policeman who tried to stop the horses, doctor. Of course, Mrs. Parker was frightened. James drove the team home, and we came by trolley as far as we could, and walked across.”
“I’ll discharge him at once!” declared the man.
“Please don’t!” entreated Elsie, leaving Bart and turning to the man. She fluttered to him, placing her gloved hands on his muscular arms and looking up into his face entreatingly. “I am sure James does not deserve to be discharged, doctor. Promise me that you will not do that.”