Parson Weaver sat in the postoffice, reading a “daily” that had just arrived, when a boy came in, and not noticing the Elder, began to tell the tale to the knot of men who stood about.  They heard the story through, with many “I-told-you-so” nods, and then, one by one, slipped out of the office.  Last of all Parson Weaver went also.

He went straight to Mr. Bright’s house and pulled the door bell impetuously.

The teacher admitted him, and began immediately to try to soothe the infuriated feelings of the parson, who was really very angry.

“I hope the matter may come out all right,” said the teacher, “for I trust that ‘Dodd’ will see things as they are, when he comes to himself.”

“Tell me just what happened,” said the parson, with a kind of desperation.

Mr. Bright carefully went over the particulars.  When he had finished, he added: 

“I shall be very grateful to you for anything you can do to help us all out of this dilemma and get ‘Dodd’ on his feet again.  For what we must do, in any event, is to save the boy.”

“I shall do all in my power,” returned Mr. Weaver, “but I thought he was doing so well with you, and now he is all at sea again,” and with a groan he left the house.

Mr. Bright sat down to dinner and ate a few hurried mouthfuls.

He had just risen from his slight repast, when a twin Weaver burst into the room and shouted out: 

“Pap wants you to come over to the house as quick as you kin,” and having thus said, he turned and ran.

Mr. Bright remembered the words of “Dodd’s” mother, and he feared that father and son had closed in deadly conflict.  He hurried down the street, and made all haste toward the parsonage.

CHAPTER XV.

When Parson Weaver left Mr. Bright’s house he went directly home.  “Dodd” was there before him, and when the elder arrived he found the boy and his mother together, both apparently indignant and excited.

“To think that he should have struck you over the head with a stick,” exclaimed Mrs. Weaver, “and then should have the face to come here and trump up a story about your running away!  I always did more than half suspect that man of lying, and I have found him out now!”

“Why, what is this?” inquired the parson, with a puzzled look.

“Mr. Bright has been striking ‘Dodd’ over the head with a stick,” explained Mrs. Weaver; “just see where he hit him!” She pushed the hair back off her son’s forehead as she spoke, and revealed a long red streak, made, apparently, by a blow from some solid substance.

Elder Weaver was dumbfounded.  “Tell me all about this affair,” he demanded of “Dodd,” as he led the way to another room, leaving Mrs. Weaver to go on with her housework.

“All there is of it,” answered “Dodd,” “Old Bright gave me some of his lip because I couldn’t do an example, and when I tried to explain he got mad and hit me over the head with a club, and so I got up and left.”