By the time the first song ended a gentle snore was heard, and Jack lay fast asleep, worn out with the busy week and the walk, which had been longer and harder than any one guessed.  Jill took up her knitting and worked quietly by firelight, still wondering and guessing what the secret could be; for she had not much to amuse her, and little things were very interesting if connected with her friends.  Presently Jack rolled over and began to mutter in his sleep, as he often did when too weary for sound slumber.  Jill paid no attention till he uttered a name which made her prick up her ears and listen to the broken sentences which followed.  Only a few words, but she dropped her work, saying to herself,—­

“I do believe he is talking about the secret.  Now I shall find out, and he will tell me himself, as I said he would.”

Much pleased, she leaned and listened, but could make no sense of the confused babble about “heavy boots;” “All right, old fellow;” “Jerry’s off;” and “The ink is too thick.”

The slam of the front door woke Jack, and he pulled himself up, declaring that he believed he had been having a nap.

“I wish you’d have another,” said Jill, greatly disappointed at the loss of the intelligence she seemed to be so near getting.

“Floor is too hard for tired bones.  Guess I’ll go to bed and get rested up for Monday.  I’ve worked like fury this week, so next I’m going in for fun;” and, little dreaming what hard times were in store for him, Jack went off to enjoy his warm bath and welcome bed, where he was soon sleeping with the serene look of one whose dreams were happy, whose conscience was at rest.

* * * * *

“I have a few words to say to you before you go,” said Mr. Acton, pausing with his hand on the bell, Monday afternoon, when the hour came for dismissing school.

The bustle of putting away books and preparing for as rapid a departure as propriety allowed, subsided suddenly, and the boys and girls sat as still as mice, while the hearts of such as had been guilty of any small sins began to beat fast.

“You remember that we had some trouble last winter about keeping the boys away from the saloon, and that a rule was made forbidding any pupil to go to town during recess?” began Mr. Acton, who, being a conscientious man as well as an excellent teacher, felt that he was responsible for the children in school hours, and did his best to aid parents in guarding them from the few temptations which beset them in a country town.  A certain attractive little shop, where confectionery, baseballs, stationery, and picture papers were sold, was a favorite loafing place for some of the boys till the rule forbidding it was made, because in the rear of the shop was a beer and billiard saloon.  A wise rule, for the picture papers were not always of the best sort; cigars were to be had; idle fellows hung about there, and some of the lads, who wanted to be thought manly, ventured to pass the green baize door “just to look on.”