“Well, this does beat me!” he confessed, and shook his head in perplexity. “I never heard of anything like it. And I don’t want to hear of anything like it again--ugh!” He gave a little shiver. “I know when I’ve had enough--and too much. I’m going home, and I’m going to get there, and put up this gun, as quick as my legs will carry me to the house. And you can bet I’m going to keep quiet about this. And--and I hope the other fellow will keep quiet, too. Come now, Sam Parker! Brace up! Forward march!” Thus encouraging himself, Master Sam set off at a round pace for the highway, but when he reached it his speed lessened. He had a new sense of merciful escape from perils when he was out of the dark woods and in the open road; and with it came a peculiar weakness and uncertainty in his knees. He was glad to sit down on a boulder beside the ditch and rest for what seemed to him a long, long time. Finally he rose, and trudged toward the town. He went slowly, and his face was thoughtful. CHAPTER IV THE CLUB GETS A NEW NAME It was well after noon when Sam came up the narrow lane behind the Parker place, and scaled the back fence. Hasty observation from its top showed him that the coast was clear. He stole through the yard, kept the house between himself and the barn, and let himself in at the front door. The house was as quiet as well ordered homes generally are at that hour, when dinner has been disposed of, and supper is still afar off. Sam tiptoed into the library. With feverish haste he put his father’s gun in its place, first removing the cartridges from the breach. Then he opened the desk drawer, and restored his stock of cartridges to their box. He hesitated a moment over the empty shell, being, indeed, tempted to slip it in with the rest. At a casual glance the box would then seem to be full. But Sam, with all his imperfections, was not given to tricks and deceits. “I won’t do it!” he said, with decision, and slipped the shell into his pocket. As he stepped into the hall, Maggie hailed him from the top of the stairs. “Is that you, Sam?” she called. “I thought I heard the front door open, and I wondered who ’twas.” So she hadn’t seen him enter the house; therefore she could not know that he had been carrying the gun. Thus was another danger of investigation avoided. “Yes; I came in that way,” he said. “Father home yet?” “No.” “Where’s Mother?” “Lon’s drivin’ her over to see old Mis’ Hardee at Webster Mills.” There are times when things do seem to have been arranged most fortunately. Sam could have thrown up his cap and cheered. But Maggie was beginning to descend the stairs. “Look here, Sam Parker! Why didn’t you come home to dinner?” she demanded. “Oh, I’m all right. I don’t want anything to eat.” Maggie continued to descend the stairs. “Don’t, eh? Where’d you get dinner? Did the Joneses invite you?” “No.” “The Greens, then?” “Why--why--no; they didn’t.”