Part 14 (1/2)

”Where is he?” and the clergyman looked around as if expecting to see him appear.

”I do not know, Daniel. He always comes to see me when he returns from school, but I have not seen him this afternoon. That scout book came this morning, and he may be lost in that.”

”But he is not in the house, Martha. I have boon all over the place and have not seen him.”

”Is the book there?” his wife asked. ”I left it on the dining-room table.”

”I didn't see any book. But, hark, there is some one at the door.

They're after me to attend the wedding, and what shall I say! How can I explain!” and the parson started to go to the door.

”Wait, Daniel,” his wife called. ”If the book is gone, Rodney must have taken it over to show it to Captain Josh, for he said he was going to do that just as soon as it came.”

”But why should he take the key, Martha?” and the parson turned his despairing face upon hers.

”I do not know, Daniel. But you had better send some one after him at once. He may know something about it.”

In the meantime the doorbell had been ringing furiously, and when Parson Dan at last opened it, he was confronted by several excited men, among whom was the bridegroom.

”What's wrong, parson?” Ned Percher cried. ”We've been waitin' out here fer some time. The church is locked, and the people are gettin'

impatient.”

”I can't find the key, Ned, that's what's the trouble,” the parson explained.

”Can't find the key!” came in a chorus from all.

”No. It's gone, and the only person who must know about it is Rodney, and I believe he's over at Captain Josh's.”

The groom, a thick-set, red-faced man, now stepped forward.

”D'ye think this is the right way to treat me, parson?” he demanded.

”Haven't I been always one of your best church members, and now when I'm to be married, ye lock the church against me, and say that the key is lost. What will Susie think? I'd like to know. She'll never get over the disgrace.”

”You are not half as sorry as I am,” Parson Dan replied as calmly as possible. ”I am deeply mortified that such a thing should have happened. But talking will not mend matters now. The key must be found, so if one of you will hurry over to the Anchorage, and bring Rodney back, I shall be greatly obliged.”

Ned Percher at once volunteered to go, and soon he was speeding for the captain's house by a short-cut through the field. There was nothing else for the rest to do but to wait in front of the rectory until the messenger should return with the boy.

The bride was greatly disturbed over the delay. So overcome was she with the excitement that she had to be carried into the house, where she lay upon the sitting-room sofa, quite hysterical. The women who gathered around her by no means restrained their tongues, thus making the young bride 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 convinced than ever. Others told what it meant for a wedding to be delayed right at the church door, and related a number of cases where ill luck had followed such weddings. Thus, by the time Ned Percher arrived, with Rod close at his heels, the bride was almost in a state of nervous collapse.

During this time of waiting Parson Dan spoke to no one. He knew that the less he now said the better it would be. His face had lost its usual genial expression, and his eyes no longer twinkled with humour.

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 for a service, nor had he kept people waiting at either a funeral or a wedding. He stood with his face turned up the road, and a sigh of relief at last escaped his lips when he saw Rod coming toward him.

The boy was greatly surprised to see so many teams and people in front of the rectory, for Ned would tell him nothing of what was taking place. He was astonished, as well, when he observed the worried look upon the parson's face. But he had no time for questions just then, for the clergyman laid a heavy hand upon the lad's shoulder, and demanded if he knew what had become of the key of the church.

Instantly the cause of the excitement flashed upon Rod's mind. His face became pale, and he glanced nervously around upon the men who had gathered near.

”Do you hear me?” the parson again demanded. ”Do you know anything about that key?”