`` What can I do for you ? '' `` I 'm afraid I 'm not a very welcome sort of customer , Mr. Benson , '' said Theodora , with an uncertain smile . `` I want to sell , not buy . Could you -- will you buy this locket ? '' Mr. Benson pursed up his lips , took up the locket , and examined it . `` Well , I do n't often buy second-hand stuff , '' he said , after some reflection , `` but I do n't mind obliging you , Miss Theodora . I 'll give you four dollars for this trinket . '' Theodora knew the locket had cost a great deal more than that , but four dollars would get what she wanted , and she dared not ask for more . In a few minutes the locket was in Mr. Benson 's possession , and Theodora , with four crisp new bills in her purse , was hurrying to the toy store . Half an hour later she was on her way back to Red Butte , with as many parcels as she could carry -- Jimmy 's skates , two lovely dolls for the twins , packages of nuts and candy , and a nice plump turkey . Theodora beguiled her lonely tramp by picturing the children 's joy in the morning . About a quarter of a mile past Mr. Lurgan 's house the trail curved suddenly about a bluff of poplars . As Theodora rounded the turn she halted in amazement . Almost at her feet the body of a man was lying across the road . He was clad in a big fur coat , and had a fur cap pulled well down over his forehead and ears . Almost all of him that could be seen was a full bushy beard . Theodora had no idea who he was , or where he had come from . But she realized that he was unconscious , and that he would speedily freeze to death if help were not brought . The footprints of a horse galloping across the prairie suggested a fall and a runaway , but Theodora did not waste time in speculation . She ran back at full speed to Mr. Lurgan 's , and roused the household .
In a few minutes Mr. Lurgan and his son had hitched a horse XXXXX a wood-sleigh , and hurried down the trail to the unfortunate man .
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