The doctor is getting a nurse tonight, too, so your wife can get some rest. And now I’ll go and see if there is anything else I can do. Where is that son of yours? It’s time he had something to eat, too.”

So Paige went in search of the boy and to find out from June what plans she had.

“I’m staying here till the nurse comes,” she said, “but I think you should go home and tell my folks what has happened. Dad will come after me. And tell him to bring some more coffee and a loaf of bread. Now please, go. I’ve taken enough of your time already, and I surely am obliged to you. I didn’t know I was getting you into such an extended performance, but it certainly has been wonderful to have you along. You’ve done wonders with that poor discouraged man. Now go, do. Your mother will be worried about you.”

Paige looked at her amusedly.

“So that’s the kind of softy you think I am, is it? Leave you here to face all this music and go home to save myself? Not on your life, I don’t do that. But I’ll tell you what I will do. I’ll go to the store and get some groceries. There’s a store over near our house that stays open late, and even if they’ve gone to bed, I know them well enough to wake them up. So you wait here till I come back. I won’t be long.” And with that, Paige vanished out into the darkness.

Chapter 5

All the way back to the village, Paige had a vision in his mind of the lovely girl he had left behind him, serving the poor and forlorn, and doing it so fully and so joyously. She must be an extraordinary girl. A girl worth knowing and having for a friend. He was glad he had been called aside from his own pursuits to have this brief experience with her in rescue work.

Knowing there was little time before the store closed, he hurried there first.

The grocer was surprised to see him.

“Why, Paige, your mother got her usual supply this morning,” he said. “Are you sure she wants more butter? And eggs? Or has she got unexpected company?”

“No, Mr. Brand,” said Paige, “these are for some friends who couldn’t do their ordering today, and as I was coming this way, I offered to bring some things for them. They have sickness in the family and got pretty well cleaned out of supplies. Give me two loaves of bread, please, and some crackers. Some of that cheese. About two pounds of butter, if you can spare that much. Is butter still scarce?”

“Well, she ain’t so plenty,” responded the grocer, “but I guess I can spare you a little. I can let you have a half pound. Will that do? Our butter man comes in the morning. And did you say you wanted some meat? Lucky I got a good-sized pot roast left. And how about potatoes and carrots and onions and cabbage and a bag of flour?”

“That will be fine,” said Paige.