A few minutes later, the ladies came out on the porch. The boys had already gone to their room as was their usual custom.
"Are we all ready for our ride?" the doctor asked.
Aunt Madge nodded. They invited Mr. Quinn to join them, but he had some last duties to perform and he wanted to retire early. So he bade the guests good-night.
The next minute the machine was gliding down the road.
CHAPTER IV
First Aid
High above, the sun beat down relentlessly. Not a breath of air stirred. There was the sleepy droning of the everlasting insects, the number of which seemed always magnified at such a time. There had been no rain for many a day. The dust was thick along the roads. Now and then a passing automobile left an instant's breeze to be more than paid for in the swirl of dust.
A solitary figure was scuffling along wearily. A casual glance marked him as a knight of the road, a tramp. But if you had stopped to observe a little more closely, you would have noted that he was not of that type, unkempt and bedraggled though he appeared.
He had stopped at the last house on the road and then, after no little hesitation, had asked for a drink of water. He had rested for a few minutes—then he had gone on. The people in the house had noticed his obvious weariness and had asked him if he did not wish to rest. But the evident and simple kindness of the woman, who was Mrs. Quinn, had seemingly embarrassed the man.
"Thank you kindly, ma'am," he had replied huskily, "but I must be on my way."