Five Little Peppers at School Part 11

"A brakeman," Miss Baker hastened to add. "Don't be frightened. None of the pa.s.sengers."

"Now I know he was brave, and trying to do something to save us," cried Polly, with kindling eyes.

"Yes," said a pa.s.senger, coming up to their group, "he was running back with a lantern to signal the train, and he slipped and fell, and the express went over him. But it stopped just in time for us."

"Oh the poor, poor man!" Polly was quite gone by this time, and Alexia forgot her pain in trying to comfort her.

"But suppose he had children," cried Polly, "just suppose it, Alexia."

"I don't want to suppose it," said Alexia, wriggling. "Ugh! you do say such uncomfortable things, Polly Pepper."

"I know it." Polly swallowed hard, and held Alexia's hand tighter than ever. "Well, I won't talk of it any more."

The governess, who had moved away a bit, now came back with vexation plainly written all over her face. "I must go and see if there isn't some way to get a message to Grandpapa King, Alexia," said Polly. "I'll be back as soon as I can." She dropped a kiss on the nearest cheek.

"Don't be gone long," begged Alexia.

"I will go with you," said the governess, stepping off after her.

"Very well," said Polly, going swiftly down the aisle, to see below the car steps a crowd of pa.s.sengers all in a tumult, and vociferating angrily. In the midst of them, Polly saw the face of the doctor who had just fixed Alexia's arm.

"Oh sir," she began.

He looked up, and caught sight of the brown eyes. "Is the little girl worse?" And he sprang over toward her.

Polly, not stopping to think how furious Alexia would be, who was quite the tallest of their set, to be designated as a little girl, made haste to say, "Oh no, sir; but oh, could you tell me how to let my grandpapa and my mother know we are safe? Could you, sir?" Poor Polly, who had held up so bravely, was clasping her hands tightly together, and the brown eyes were full of tears.

"Well, you see," began the doctor, hating to disappoint her, "it's a difficult matter to get in communication with them at once. We are only five miles out, but--"

"Five miles?" echoed Polly. "Oh then, some one can go to the nearest station, and telephone, can't they, sir?"

"To be sure; and that's been done. But your family, little girl--how can we reach them?"

"Oh, I can run," cried Polly happily, "to the station myself, sir," and she began to clamber down the car steps.

"Come back," commanded the governess, lifting her hands in horror. "I never heard of such a thing. The very idea! What would your grandfather, Mr. King, say to such a thing, Polly Pepper?"

"Mr. who?" cried the doctor. "Stay, little girl," seizing her arm. "Mr.

who?" he demanded, looking up to the governess on the car steps.

"Mr. Horatio King," she replied with asperity, "and you'd better be occupied with something else, let me tell you, sir, instead of encouraging his granddaughter to run off on such a wild-goose errand as this."

"I certainly shall take pleasure in performing the wild-goose errand myself," he said. "Now Polly, I'll send the message; don't you worry,"

and he sped off down the track.

VII THE SALISBURY GIRLS

And then somebody rushed in, saying, "We've another locomotive; now we're going!" And everybody else who was outside hurried into the cars; the new propelling power was attached to the other end of the train, and after a deal of switching, there they were at last--off on the way home!

Polly gave a long breath of relief, and clasped Alexia's hand closely.

"Oh, by this time they know at home it's all right," she cried.

The doctor came smilingly down the aisle. "Well," he nodded to Polly.

"Yes, it's all right," he said. "I must really call you Polly Pepper now, for I know your grandfather, and Dr. Fisher--well there! indeed I know him."

"Do you?" cried Polly with blooming cheeks, well pleased to find a friend at such a time.

"Yes, indeed. I'm fortunate enough to meet him in hospital work. Now then, how is our little friend here?" He leaned over, and touched Alexia's arm lightly.

"Oh, I'm all right," she said.

"That's good," in a gratified tone. "Now keep plucky, and you'll get out of this finely." Then he sat down on the arm of the seat, and told such a funny story that no one supposed it could be the home station when the train came to a standstill, and he was helping Alexia out.

"There now--drop Polly's hand, if you please," the doctor was saying; "I'll a.s.sist you."

"But I don't want to," said Alexia, hanging to it for dear life. "I want Polly."

"I presume so," laughed the doctor, "but I think it's best for me to help you." Miss Baker and all the girls crowded up in a bunch. "Easy there," he said. "Don't hurry so; there's plenty of time." And he got between them and Alexia's lame arm.

And there, down by the car steps--Polly could see him as he waited for the stream of pa.s.sengers to get out--was Jasper, his eyes eagerly searching every face, with an impatience scarcely to be controlled. And back of him were Dr. Fisher's big gla.s.ses, shining as the little doctor pranced back and forth, unable to keep still.

"There they are--there they are!" Polly exclaimed. "Oh, if we could hurry and let them know we're all right!" But they were wedged in so, there was nothing to do but to take their turn and let the pa.s.sengers in front descend.

"Jasper--oh, Papa Fisher!" At last Polly was out on the platform where she stood on her tiptoes and waved her hand.

"Are you all right?" asked Jasper eagerly, craning his neck to see for himself.

"Yes--yes!" cried Polly. And then presently they had her on either hand!

"Oh, help Alexia," she cried, turning back.

Dr. Fisher took one look through his big gla.s.ses. "Well, well, Pennell,"

he exclaimed, "you here?" and he skipped over to them.

"I really believe so," laughed Dr. Pennell.

"Dear me!" Little Dr. Fisher glanced at Alexia quickly.

"Nothing but sprained," the other doctor said quickly. "Still, it needs careful attention."

And then it came out that Alexia's aunt had heard a chance word dropped about the accident, and had run down to Mr. King's in her distress, so she was there awaiting them; and the fathers and brothers of the rest of the "Salisbury girls" took off their charges, much to the relief of the governess. So presently Jasper had his party all settled in the carriage, Dr. Pennell saying, "Well, I resign my responsibility about that arm to you, Dr. Fisher." He lifted his hat, and was off.

"Oh, wait!" cried Polly in great distress as Thomas was just starting off with a dash, "I must speak to him."

"Polly--what is it?" cried Jasper. "Wait, Thomas!" So Thomas pulled up.