e town went "wet"
in the Fall. Naturally Mr. Day's interest in prohibition increased
mightily.

The visiting young people would have liked to hold dances in Lem
Parraday's big room at the Inn. But gently bred girls did not care to
go where liquor was sold; so the dancing parties of the better class
were held in the Odd Fellows Hall.

The recurrent temperance meetings which had at first been held in the
Town House had to seek other quarters early in the campaign. Mr. Cross
Moore "lifted his finger" and the councilmen voted to allow the Town
Hall to be used for no such purpose.

However, warm weather having come, in a week the Campaign Committee
obtained a big tent, set it up on the old circus grounds behind Major
Price's place, somewhat curtailing the boys' baseball field, and the
temperance meetings were held not only once a week, but thrice weekly.

The tent meetings became vastly popular. When Nelson Haley, urged by
the elder, made his first speech in the campaign, Polktown awoke as
never before to the fact that their schoolmaster had a gift of oratory
not previously suspected.

And, perhaps as much as anything, that speech raised public opinion to
a height which could be no longer ignored by the School Committee.
There was an unveiled demand in the Polktown column of the Middletown
Courier that Nelson Haley should be appointed teacher of the graded
school for the ensuing year.

Even Mr. Cross Moore saw that the time had come for him and his
comrades on the committee to back down completely from their position.
It was the only thing that would save them from being voted out of
office at the coming election--and perhaps that would happen anyway!

Before the Summer was over the request, signed by the five
committeemen, came to Nelson that he take up his duties from which he
had asked to be relieved in the Spring.

"It's a victory!" cried Janice, happily. "Oh, Nelson! I'm _so_ glad."

But there was an exceedingly bitter taste on Nelson Haley's lips. He
shook his head and could not smile. The accusation against his
character still stood. He had been accused of stealing the collection
of coins, and he had never been able to disprove the charge.

CHAPTER XXIX

THE TRUTH AT LAST

Daddy had not written for nearly two months. At least, no letter from
him had reached Janice. The Day family in Polktown had not gone into
mourning in the Spring and Aunt 'Mira gloried in a most astonishing
plum-colo