"Don't get excited," ordered the stranger. "And don't go near that blazing pan. Let me go in there," and he brushed Nancy aside making his way into the untidy place, which now seemed, to the frightened girl, all in flames. "The meat--gosh!" moaned poor Ted, for the stranger had opened the back door, and having grabbed the flaming pan with that same towel Nancy had tossed on the chair, he was now tossing the blazing pan as far out from the house as his best fling permitted. "There!" he exclaimed, brushing one hand with the other. "I guess we're safe now." "Oh, thank you, Mister, Mister--" Nancy waited for him to supply the name, but he only smiled broadly. "Just call me Sam," he said pleasantly. "Sam?" echoed Ted. "Yes, sonny. Isn't that all right?" asked the stranger. They were within the cluttered kitchen now and, as is usually the case with girls of Nancy's temperament, she was much distressed at the looks of the place. In fact, she was making frantic but futile efforts to right things. "What's the matter with Sam?" again asked the man, curiously. "Oh, nothing," replied Ted. "Only it isn't your name." "No? How do you know?" persisted the stranger, quizzically. "You don't look like a Sam," said Ted, kicking one heel against the other to hide his embarrassment. He hadn't intended saying all that. The man laughed heartily, and for the moment Nancy forgot the upset kitchen. But the dinner! "I hope your dinner isn't gone," remarked the stranger who wanted to be called Sam. "Oh, no," replied Nancy laconically, avoiding Ted's discouraged look. "That was only some--some meat we were cooking." "Can't keep house and 'tend store without spoiling something. But I feel it was somewhat my fault. Suppose we lock up and trot down to the corner for a dish of ice cream?" he suggested. "It's just warm enough today for cream; don't you think so?" "Oh, let's!" chirped Ted. A hungry boy is ever an object of pity. "You go," suggested Nancy, "but I think I had better stay here." "Oh, no. You've got to come along. Let me see. If you call me Uncle Sam what shall I call you?" "I'm Nancy Brandon and this is my brother Ted," replied Nancy. "But I'd like much better to call you by your real name." "Real name," and he laughed again. "I see we are going to be critical friends. Now then, since you insist Sam won't do suppose we make it Sanders. Mr. Sanders. How does that name suit?" and he clapped Ted's shoulders jovially. "Then Mr. Sanders, you and Ted go along and get your cream. I really must attend to things here," insisted Nancy. "We are all so upset and mother will expect us to have things in some sort of order." "Oh, Sis, come along" begged Ted. "I'll help you when we get back. It won't take a minute."