“Why not hold the wedding in the rectory, then?” Mrs. Royal suggested.  “Perhaps they wouldn’t mind under the circumstances.”

“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.”

“Where is he?” and the clergyman looked around as if expecting to see him appear.

“I do not know, Daniel.  He always comes to see me when he returns from school, but I have not seen him this afternoon.  That scout book came this morning, and he may be lost in that.”

“But he is not in the house, Martha.  I have boon all over the place and have not seen him.”

“Is the book there?” his wife asked.  “I left it on the dining-room table.”

“I didn’t see any book.  But, hark, there is some one at the door.  They’re after me to attend the wedding, and what shall I say!  How can I explain!” and the parson started to go to the door.

“Wait, Daniel,” his wife called.  “If the book is gone, Rodney must have taken it over to show it to Captain Josh, for he said he was going to do that just as soon as it came.”

“But why should he take the key, Martha?” and the parson turned his despairing face upon hers.

“I do not know, Daniel.  But you had better send some one after him at once.  He may know something about it.”

In the meantime the doorbell had been ringing furiously, and when Parson Dan at last opened it, he was confronted by several excited men, among whom was the bridegroom.

“What’s wrong, parson?” Ned Percher cried.  “We’ve been waitin’ out here fer some time.  The church is locked, and the people are gettin’ impatient.”

“I can’t find the key, Ned, that’s what’s the trouble,” the parson explained.

“Can’t find the key!” came in a chorus from all.

“No.  It’s gone, and the only person who must know about it is Rodney, and I believe he’s over at Captain Josh’s.”

The groom, a thick-set, red-faced man, now stepped forward.

“D’ye think this is the right way to treat me, parson?” he demanded.  “Haven’t I been always one of your best church members, and now when I’m to be married, ye lock the church against me, and say that the key is lost.  What will Susie think?  I’d like to know.  She’ll never get over the disgrace.”

“You are not half as sorry as I am,” Parson Dan replied as calmly as possible.  “I am deeply mortified that such a thing should have happened.  But talking will not mend matters now.  The key must be found, so if one of you will hurry over to the Anchorage, and bring Rodney back, I shall be greatly obliged.”