Rod of the Lone Patrol Part 13

CHAPTER X

HIS FIRST "GOOD TURN"

Rod was greatly excited over what Whyn had told him about the boy scouts, and on the way home he plied Parson Dan with numerous questions.

"Didn't you ever hear of them before, grandad?" he asked.

"Yes, Rodney, I did," was the reply. "But there are so many things taking place in the cities these days that it is hard 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 country where the boys are so scattered, I am afraid that it would be a difficult undertaking to form a band of scouts."

"Well, I am going to be a scout, anyway," Rod declared. "I want to learn how to bring a drowned man back to life, and to talk with flags.

Oh, it must be great to do that! How can I learn, grandad?"

"There must be books which explain such things," the clergyman replied.

"Shall I write to the city to find out?"

"Oh, will you, grandad?" and Rod fairly danced with joy, and his eyes sparkled with excitement. "Will you write at once?"

"Yes, dear. I shall write the letter this evening, and it will go down on Monday."

"When will the book come?"

"It should be here by Wednesday."

"Oh!"

"But, remember, Rodney, you must not let this scout idea interfere with your school lessons."

"No, grandad, I won't. I will study hard and fast so that I can read my scout book."

Parson Dan smiled as he watched the lad's enthusiasm. He thought, too, of another boy, who also had been full of life and fun, but who had been unnaturally checked when he should have been directed and led aright. He now realised only too well what a mistake had been made with Alec, and he was determined that the same should not be the case with Rodney.

The following days were very long ones to Rod. It seemed as if Wednesday would never come. He thought over everything Whyn had told him about the scouts, and wearied Mrs. Royal by telling her over and over again what he intended to do when the book arrived. He had not seen Whyn since Sat.u.r.day, but was looking eagerly forward to seeing her as soon as he had his precious book.

Rod hurried home from school on Wednesday, certain that his treasure would be awaiting him. He did not dally along the road looking for birds' nests as was his usual custom. Neither did the b.u.t.terflies interest him. He had something more important on hand, which absorbed all of his attention.

He had almost reached the rectory gate, when an automobile whizzed past, half-smothering him in a cloud of dust. This was a common occurrence during the summer months, 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, reared, wheeled, upset the carriage, and threw the driver into the ditch. The terrified animal then bolted down the road dragging the overturned carriage after it.

The men in the car were greatly concerned over the accident. They picked up the apparently unconscious woman, and found that blood was streaming from her nose. Seeing Rod standing near, they asked him who the woman was, and where she lived.

"She's Miss Arabella," was the reply. "Guess her nose is hurt.

Captain Josh said if ever she got into an accident it would be the first thing that would get smashed, 'cos it's so long, and is always poking into other people's affairs."

The three men looked keenly at the boy, and then at one another, while the faint semblance of a smile lurked about the corners of their mouths.

"We must get her home at once," one of them remarked. "Is there a doctor anywhere near, boy?"

"The doctor lives five miles down the road," Rod replied. "But I guess we don't need him. Just wait a minute. I know what will stop that bleeding."

With that, he sprang across the ditch, hurried through the garden, and entered the rectory. Presently he reappeared, carrying something in his hand, which proved to be a key. Going at once to the prostrate woman, who was lying upon the gra.s.s, he told the men to lift her up.

When this was done, he quickly slipped the key down the back of her neck.

"There, I guess that'll stop the bleeding," he panted.

Hardly were the words out of his mouth, when Miss Arabella leaped to her feet.

"A snake! A snake!" she yelled. "It's gone down my neck!"

With much difficulty the men soothed her excitement, telling her that there was nothing the matter. At last they induced her to enter the auto, and soon she was being borne rapidly to her home.

Rod remained for a few seconds staring after them, while an amused twinkle shone in his eyes.

"She thought it was a snake, ho, ho. Won't Captain Josh laugh when I tell him that? I didn't mean any harm, though. I just wanted to do a good turn. Guess that was something that a scout would do."

About half an hour after this incident, Parson Dan arrived home, stabled his horse, and went into the rectory. He found Mrs. Royal in her little sewing-room on the north side of the house, busily engaged upon some of the Ladies' Aid work. She smiled as her husband entered.

"I was afraid you would be late, Daniel," she remarked.

"I drove hard," was the reply, "for I never like to keep a wedding waiting. I believe that I have ten minutes to spare, so I shall take a glance at the Marriage Service. It is so seldom we have a wedding that I am a little rusty."

"Won't you have a cup of tea, Daniel?" his wife asked. "It might freshen you up a bit."

"No, dear, not now. Just as soon as I look over the Service, I shall go into the church to have everything ready."

He was gone but a few minutes when he returned, with an anxious expression upon his face.

"Have you seen the key of the church, Martha?" he asked. "I cannot find it anywhere."

"It must be in its usual place, Daniel. It always hangs there, and no one ever thinks of touching it but yourself."

"Well, it's not there now, and I have hunted all through the study."

Mrs. Royal at once arose, and began to a.s.sist her husband in his search for the missing key. All their efforts were in vain, however, and before they were through the wedding party arrived. This was most embarra.s.sing, for the ones who had come to be married were very particular, and would resent any delay. If they could not get into the church they were sure to be angry, for it would make them the laughing-stock of the entire parish.

"What shall we do!" Mrs. Royal gasped, as she glanced out of the window at the teams drawn up before the church. "Can't you force the door, Daniel?"

"No. It would take a blacksmith to do that. And, besides, I wouldn't allow it for any consideration. It would be terrible."

"Why not hold the wedding in the rectory, then?" Mrs. Royal suggested.

"Perhaps they wouldn't mind under the circ.u.mstances."

"Wouldn't mind! Don't you know the Sanders well enough to realise what they would do and say? Haven't they been planning for a 'church wedding' for months? Here come more teams. What in the world shall we do!" and the parson drew forth his handkerchief, and mopped his perspiring brow.

"There must be only one person who knows where that key is," Mrs. Royal thoughtfully remarked.

"And who is that?"

"Rodney. If you didn't remove it, he must have done so."