Rod of the Lone Patrol

d him about the boy scouts, and on the way hom

ar of them before,

ard for an old man like me to keep run of them all. If I were younger I might be able to do something. But in the cou

o learn how to bring a drowned man back to life, and to talk with

ich explain such things

e to the city

danced with joy, and his eyes sparkled w

he letter this evening, and

ll the b

be here by

O

t not let this scout idea inter

l study hard and fast so tha

and fun, but who had been unnaturally checked when he should have been directed and led aright. He now realised only t

d told him about the scouts, and wearied Mrs. Royal by telling her over and over again what he intended to do when the book a

d not dally along the road looking for birds' nests as was his usual custom. Neither did the butt

nths, and he paid little attention to the annoyance. The car had gone but a short distance, however, when a horse, driven by Miss Arabella Simpkins, took fright,

apparently unconscious woman, and found that blood was streaming from her nose.

id if ever she got into an accident it would be the first thing that would get

n at one another, while the faint semblance of

one of them remarked. "Is ther

replied. "But I guess we don't need him. Just wai

carrying something in his hand, which proved to be a key. Going at once to the prostrate woman, who was lying upon

at'll stop the ble

of his mouth, when Miss Ar

she yelled. "It's

that there was nothing the matter. At last they induced her to

staring after them, while an am

n I tell him that? I didn't mean any harm, though. I just wanted

t into the rectory. He found Mrs. Royal in her little sewing-room on the north side of the

would be late, Dan

I believe that I have ten minutes to spare, so I shall take a glance at the

Daniel?" his wife asked. "It

look over the Service, I shall go into

when he returned, with an an

e church, Martha?" he asked.

. It always hangs there, and no one ev

now, and I have hunted

they were through the wedding party arrived. This was most embarrassing, for the ones who had come to be married were very particular, and would

nced out of the window at the teams drawn up befo

t. And, besides, I wouldn't allow it for

ng in the rectory, then

ldn't mind under

aven't they been planning for a 'church wedding' for months? Here come more teams. What in the

who knows where that key is," M

ho is

dn't remove it, he

gyman looked around as if e

turns from school, but I have not seen him this afternoon. T

artha. I have boon all over th

wife asked. "I left it

k. But, hark, there i

end the wedding, and wh

he parson started

ney must have taken it over to show it to Captain Josh, fo

, Martha?" and the parson turne

better send some one after him at on

and when Parson Dan at last opened it, he was confronte

been waitin' out here fer some time. The church

d, that's what's the trou

key!" came in a

ho must know about it is Rodney, and

set, red-faced man,

your best church members, and now when I'm to be married, ye lock the church against me, and say

that such a thing should have happened. But talking will not mend matters now. The key must be found,

house by a short-cut through the field. There was nothing else for the rest to do

feel as badly as possible. Several expressed their opinion of the clergyman for allowing such a thing to happen. It was another example, so they said, of the mistake he had made in bringing up a child of whose parents he knew nothing. They had said so before, and were now more firmly conv

ur. He was feeling very keenly the whole unfortunate affair. Never before during the whole course of his entire ministry had such a thing occurred. He had often boasted that he had never once been late

ing place. He was astonished, as well, when he observed the worried look upon the parson's face. But he had no time for questions jus

Rod's mind. His face became pale, and he glanced

n again demanded. "Do you k

I do," was the

is it

Miss Arabel

clergyman repeated in profound

so I dropped the key down her neck. Captain Josh sa

eyes as the humorous side of the situation dawned upon him. He longed to laugh outright, and give the culprit before him

"you go after that key as fast

d was off like a shot, glad to

delayed, and the murmurs of