be thankful enough that for once she didn’t make a cat’s-paw of me!  I said, ’When there’s any flogging to be done, you will do it!’ She was mad, and I half expected her to discharge me on the spot, but I know too much for her to dare to go too far.  I’ve done piles of dirty work for Amelia Sniffen!’—­’Better cut it out,’ said the man.—­’Can’t, as long as I stay,’ she replied.  ’That’s what I’m there for!  But I’ve got so nervous since this happened, I don’t know what to do!  I start every time I see one of the Board come into the house.  What if they should find out!  You don’t suppose they could hold me for—­anything, do you?  I’d give a farm to know how much Mrs. Albright has heard, but I’m afraid to quiz her.  She’s the one that rooms across the hall and tried to get in when they were having the time—­she’s got more grit than the others.  I don’t think Miss Twining would dare tell, and I don’t see how she could—­she is locked in all the time, ostensibly to keep her from visitors!  I thought if Mrs. Albright did find out she’d go right to the Board; but there hasn’t been a word yet.  That woman needs a doctor if ever anybody did.  Lucky for us that she didn’t die when—­’And that’s all I heard.  They stopped before they came to the Home entrance, and I was afraid of being caught, so I cut across the avenue into the shadows.  I was amazed!” He drew a long breath.  “But I fancy it isn’t much news to you.”

“Some of it is,” Polly replied.  “I never thought of Miss Sniffen’s being dishonest with money.  I don’t see how she can—­”

“Easy enough in a place like that.  But this other is pretty bad business.  If Miss Twining should happen to die without any doctor, and the authorities should find out that Miss Sniffen beat—­”

“No, she didn’t!” interrupted Polly.  “I suppose she meant to, but Miss Twining fainted and that put a stop to it.  I’d tell you everything, David, only Miss Nita and Mrs. Albright and Miss Crilly and I agreed not to say a word to anybody.”

“Never mind!  I can guess enough.  Something should be done about it, Polly.  If Miss Twining needs a doctor, she ought to have one immediately.”

“I know it!” Her voice was troubled.  “I wanted to tell Mr. Randolph; but they won’t let me, for fear he’ll take the Home’s part, or something, and get them into trouble.  I don’t know what to do!”

The car stopped at the Gresham door, and Polly forgot disagreeable things in the pleasure of Mrs. Collins’s cordial welcome.

CHAPTER XXIX

DISAPPOINTMENT

Miss Twining was worse.  Dr. Gunnip had been called late in the afternoon.  It was now nearly six o’clock, and the third-floor corner room was discussing the situation.

“I guess you’d better see Mr. Randolph to-morrow,” Mrs. Albright was saying.

“Why not make it this evening?” returned Polly.  “She may not live till morning!” Tears were in her voice.