h-falutin'--lots dif'rent from what
the boys she'd been bringed up with talked.

"Sez he: 'See haow b-e-a-u-tiful th' stars shine ter-night. An' if th'
moon would shed--would shed----' 'Never mind the woodshed,' sez the
gal. 'Go on with yer purty talk.' Haw! haw! haw!

"Now, this here Nelson Haley ain't got no more control of his tongue
than that feller had. Jefers-pelters! what ye goin' ter do with a
feller that tells ev'rything he knows jest because he's axed?"

"He's perfectly honest," Janice cried. "That shows it."

"If he's puffec' at all," grunted Walky, "he's a puffec' fule! That's
what he is!"

And Nelson Haley's frankness really did spell disaster. Taking courage
from the discovery of the young schoolmaster's use of money, the
committee swore a warrant out for him before Judge Little. It was done
very quietly; but Nelson's friends, who were on the watch for just such
a move, were informed almost as soon as the dreadful deed was done.

News of it came to the Day house on Saturday afternoon, just before
supper-time. On this occasion Uncle Jason waited for no meal to be
eaten. Marty ran and got out Janice's car. His cousin and Mr. Day
joined him while Aunt 'Mira came to the kitchen door with the
inevitable slice of pork dangling from her fork.

"I'd run him right out o' the county, that's what I'd do, Janice, an'
let Cross Moore and Massey whistle for him!" cried the angry lady.
"Leastwise, don't ye let that drab old crab, Poley Cantor, take him to
jail."

"We'll see about _that_," said Uncle Jason grimly. "Let her go,
Marty--an' see if ye can git us down the hill without runnin' over
nobody's pup."

Perhaps Judge Little had purposely delayed giving the warrant to
Constable Cantor to serve. The Days found Nelson at home and ran him
down to the justice's office before the constable had started to hunt
for his prey.

The "drab" old constable met them in front of the justice's office and
marched back into the room with Janice and Nelson and Marty and his
father. Judge Little looked surprised when they entered.

"What's this? what's this?" he demanded, smiling at Janice. "Another
case of speeding, Janice Day?"

"Somebody's been speeding, I reckon, Jedge," drawled Mr. Day. "And
their wheels have skidded, too. I understand that you've issued a
warrant for Mr. Haley?"

"Had to do it, Jason--positively _had_ to," said the justice. "Better
serve it right here, quietly, Constable. This i