“Do I look like a person who would sit on Anna Belle?” he asked gravely.

The doll was enthroned upon his knee as he set down his case, and the train started.

“If she annoys you I’ll take her,” said Jewel, with a little air of motherliness not lost upon her companion.

“Thank you,” he replied, “but I’m used to children.  She looks like a fine, healthy little girl,” keeping his eyes fixed on the doll’s rosy cheeks.

“Yes indeed.  She’s very healthy.”

“Not had measles, or chicken pox, or mumps, or any of those things yet?” pursued the pleasant voice.

“Oh dear!” gasped Jewel.  “Please let me take Anna Belle.”  She caught her doll into her arms and met her companion’s surprised gaze.

“I haven’t any of them,” he returned, amused.  “Don’t be afraid.”

“I’m not afraid,” answered the child promptly.  “There is nothing to be afraid of.”

“I was only going to say,” said the young man, “that if she was ailing I could prescribe for her.  I have my case right here.”

Jewel’s startled look fell to the black case.  “What’s that!  Medicine?” she asked softly.

“It certainly is.  So you see you have a doctor handy if anything ails the baby.”

The child gazed at him with grave scrutiny.  “Do you believe in materia medica?” she asked.

The young doctor threw back his head and laughed heartily.  “Well, yes,” he answered at last.  “I am supposed to.”

To his surprise his neighbor returned to the attitude in which he had found her, with one hand over her eyes.

He ceased laughing and looked at her in some discomfiture.  Her mouth was set seriously.  There was no quiver of the rosy lips.

To his relief, in a minute she dropped her hand and began to hum and arrange her doll’s hat.

The conductor approached, and as the doctor presented his ticket, he said, “This little girl’s fare is paid, I believe.”  The conductor nodded and passed on.

“I’m to get off at Bel-Air,” said Jewel.  “I hope he doesn’t forget.”

“If he does, I shan’t,” said the doctor, “for I’m going to get off there myself.”

The child’s eyes brightened.  “Isn’t that nice!” she returned.  Then she lifted Anna Belle and whispered something into her ear.

“No secrets,” said the doctor.

“I was just reminding Anna belle how we are always taken care of,” returned Jewel.

The young man regarded her with increasing interest and curiosity.

“Don’t you wonder how I knew that your fare was paid?” he asked.

“How did you?”

“I met Mr. Evringham hurrying through the station.  He said his granddaughter was on this train and asked me to look out for a little girl with a doll.”

“Oh,” returned the child, pleased, “then you know grandpa.”

“I’ve known him ever since I was no bigger than you are.  But even then,” added the doctor mentally, “I hadn’t supposed him capable of sending this baby out from the city alone.”