For Richard was bending over his father, and trying his best to do something that would help the unconscious sufferer.
"Did you send for the doctor?"
"Yes; sent for Dr. Melvin first thing," replied one of the others,
"But we don't know where he is."
"I think he is over at old Mrs. Brown's," returned the boy. "I saw him walking that way a while ago."
"I'll go and see," put in Nicholas Boswell. "Meanwhile you'd better go and tell your mother."
"My mother! what will she say? And Nancy and Grace and baby Madge! Oh, it's dreadful!" broke out Richard. "I'm sure none of them can stand it."
"I'll send my wife over soon as I can," said Sandy Stone. "She's as good as a doctor, and can quiet your mother, too. Be a brave boy, Dick, and go and tell her. It will be easier, coming from you, than it would from any of us."
So Richard returned to the house. His mother was dusting in the parlor, and going straight to her he said:
"Mother, the men are bringing father home. He slipped on the ladder and got hurt pretty badly. You had better get a bed ready for him, and some bandages, because he's got a cut or two on his head," and then, as the mother's breast began to heave: "Don't worry, mother; it may not be near as bad as we believe it is."
It was over in a moment, and when the men arrived Mrs. Dare was as calm as any of them.