the lantern down and walked across the barn
to lay one hand upon the flank of the nervous animal in the nearest
stall.

"That's what it is," he stated slowly; and again he touched the wound
on his chin gingerly. "From this," he went on. "I came in last night
to feed--and I--I forgot to speak to Tom here, and it was dark. He--he
laced out and caught me--and that's where I landed, there against the
wall."

The servant of the "Gov'mint" nodded his comprehension--he nodded it
volubly, with deep bows that would have done credit to a dancing
master, lest his comprehensions seem in the least bit veiled with
doubt. He even clicked his tongue sympathetically, just as the plump
newspaper man had done.

"Quite a tap--quite a tap!" he said as soothingly as his uncertain
tongue would permit; but he took care to keep a safe distance between
himself and his guide when Denny stooped and lifted the lantern and
led the way outside.

Now that he was free from that detaining hand upon his shoulder, he
contemplated the advisability of a sudden dash for the buggy and
flight behind the fat white mare. Nothing but the weakened condition
of his own knees and a lack of confidence in her ability to carry him
clear kept him from acting instantly upon that impulse. And then the
summoning voice of the great blurred figure which had been zigzagging
across the grass before him checked him at the very moment of
decision.

Young Denny had stopped beside a sapling that stood in a direct line
with the kitchen window, and was pointing down at a heap of broken
crockery that lay at its foot.

"And if anyone was to ask you," he was deliberately inquiring, "what
do you suppose you would say that had been?"

Old Jerry knew! He knew without one chance for doubt; but never before
had the truth seemed more overwhelmingly dreadful or surcharged with
peril. A dozen diplomatic evasions flashed through his mind, and were
all condemned as inadequate for that crisis. He knew that candor was
his safest course.

"Why, I--I'd say it looked mighty like a--a broken jug," he quavered,
with elaborate interest. "Jest a common, ordinary jug that's kinda
got broke, somehow. Yes, sir-e-e, all broke up, as you might say!"

His shrill cackle of a voice caught in his throat, and grew husky, and
then broke entirely. Even Young Denny, absorbed as he was in his
methodical exhibition of all the evidence, became suddenly aware that
the little figure beside him was swallowing