“Four miles!” she looked down at the trembling form with deep pity in her brown eyes.
“I didn't have any money, Doctor, but will the hen pay for the medicine?” her eyes were raised anxiously to his face and Mary's eyes met the look in the eyes of her husband.
“I don't want the hen. We haven't any place to keep her. Besides my wife, here, is afraid of hens.” A little smile flitted across the wan face.
He told her how to take the medicine and then said, “Whenever you need any more let me know and I'll send it to you. You needn't worry about the pay.”
“I'm very much obleeged to you, Doctor.”
“Just take the hen back home with you.”
“I wonder if I couldn't sell her at the store,” she said, looking at the doctor with a bright, expectant face.
“Wait here and rest awhile and then we'll see about it. I'll go down and perhaps I can find some one in town from out your way that you can ride home with. Where do you live?” She told him and he went down the stairs. In a little while he came back.
“One of your neighbors is down here now waiting for you. He's just starting home,” he said. He took the hen and as they started down the stairs Mary came out and joined them. At the foot of the stairway he said to the grocer standing in front of his establishment, “Here, Keller, I want you to give me a dollar for this hen.”
“She ain't worth it.”