The news of the accident soon reached the Reist farmhouse. Amanda
telephoned her sympathy to Mrs. Landis and asked if there was anything
she could do.
"Oh, Amanda," came the reply, "I do wish you'd come over! You're such a
comforting person to have around. Did you hear that it was Lyman
Mertzheimer helped to bring him home? Lyman said he and Martin were
walkin' along the road and were so busy talkin' that neither heard the
car and it knocked Martin down. It beats me what them two could have to
talk about so much in earnest that they wouldn't hear the automobile.
But perhaps Lyman wanted to make up with Martin for all the mean tricks
he done to him a'ready. Anyhow, we're glad it ain't worse. He's got a
cut on the head and is pretty much bruised. He'll be stiff for a while
but there ain't no bones broke."
"I'm so glad it isn't worse."
"Yes, ain't, abody still has something to be thankful for? Then you'll
come on over, Amanda?"
"Yes, I'll be over."
As the girl walked down the road she felt a strange mingling of
emotions. She couldn't refuse the plea of Mrs. Landis, but one thing
was certain--she wouldn't see Martin! He'd be up-stairs and she could
stay down. Perhaps she could help with the work in the kitchen--
anything but see Martin!
Mrs. Landis was excited as she drew her visitor into the warm kitchen,
but the excitement was mingled with wrath. "What d'you think, Amanda,"
she exclaimed, "our Mart---"
"Yes, our Mart---" piped out one of the smaller children, but an older
one chided him, "Now you hush, and let Mom tell about it."
"That Lyman Mertzheimer," said Mrs. Landis indignantly, "abody can't
trust at all! He let me believe that he and Martin was walkin' along
friendly like and that's how Mart got hurt. But here after Lyman left
and the doctor had Mart all fixed up and was goin' he told me that
Martin was in the side of the road and wouldn't got hurt at all if he
hadn't run to the middle to pull Lyman back. He saved that mean
fellow's life and gets no thanks for it from him! After all Lyman's
dirty tricks this takes the cake!"
Amanda's eyes sparkled. "He--I think Martin's wonderful!" she said, her
lips trembling.
"Yes," the mother agreed as she wiped her eyes with one corner of her
gingham apron. "I'd rather my boy laid up in bed hurt like he is than
have him like Lyman."
"Oh, Mom," little Emma came running into the room, "I looked in at Mart
and he's awake. Mebbe he wants somebody to talk to him like I did when
I had the measles. Dare I go set with him a little if I keep quiet?"