"We couldn't stay away any longer," Tom remarked, as he gave the young woman's hand a hearty shake. "We've been jist dyin' to see ye. Dad's got several chess problems up his sleeve all ready to hand out."
"That's good," Nance laughingly replied. "I haven't had a game for some time. Would you like to have one now?"
"Sure thing; that's if you have time."
Soon the board was spread out, the chessmen arranged, and the two players faced each other, while Martin and Tom sat near at hand smoking and watching the game.
"How did you happen to come in to-day?" Nance asked, turning to Tom, as she waited for Dad to make a move.
"We brought in Tim Cyr, who got knocked out at the diggin's, an' a mighty surprise was waitin' fer us when we got to town, I can tell ye that."
"Oh, I know," Nance eagerly replied. "You found Nurse Marion there, didn't you? Isn't she lovely?"
"Indeed she is, Miss. She's all gold, if I don't mistake. Ye should have seen the way she looked after Tim an' helped the doctor. Why, I never saw anything like it."
"And didn't she have things fixed up in great shape," Dad remarked, taking his eyes for the first time from off the game.
"Oh, I guess somebody helped her with that," Tom chuckled. "She told me all about it."