Everything's all right. They'll take Ward to be locked up. Let's
sing loud!"
We sang loud, but everything seemed all wrong.
Right in the middle of our song-at the part saying "Come
adore on bended knee"-Doctor Elton came back inside, his cigar
gone, his mouth drooping down at the corners. He was coughing.
"We let the fool outsmart us!" he whispered to Mister
Shepherd. "He'd left his motor going. He made out like he wanted
to raise the hood and show it to us. 'Stead of that, he jerked
loose, jumped on the seat, and tore off down the road!"
"I hate to hear that!"
"Jodie and them are trying to head him off, but-" Doctor
Elton started coughing again. "They're trying to head him off
before he gets to the bridge, but they'll never make it. Saddle
horses just aren't a match for these automobiles! I'd 've tried
to help, but me and my mares have-" The doctor took another
coughing spell. "We've simply had it for today."
I pulled on the teacher's coat sleeve. "Mister Shepherd, is
Mister Ward gonna come back and steal me again?"
"Of course not! Come on, let's keep singing! Loud, Little
Tree! Sing loud!"
In dreams that night I grew to be a great tree, tall and
shining, with ten arms instead of two, each a strong branch bent
down by gifts of gold and precious things.
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