ntment at all hazards until they
heard from him again.

A little after seven o'clock the advance guard of the surprise party
arrived at Hill's grocery, which was the appointed rendezvous. Abner
Stiles drew Strout to one side and said, "I saw the Pettengill folks and
that city feller in 'Zeke's double sleigh going over to the Centre at
about five o'clock."

"So much the better," said Strout.

"Do you know where they've gone?" inquired Stiles.

"No, but I guess I can find out," Strout replied.

He had spied Mandy Skinner among a crowd of girls on the platform. He
called her and she came to him.

"Did Mr. Pettengill and his sister take tea at home to-night?"

"No," said Mandy. "I told them I was going away to-night, and Mr.
Pettengill said they were going away too. And Cobb's twins told me at
dinner time that they wouldn't be home to supper; and as I didn't wish
to eat too much, considering what was coming later, I didn't get no
supper at all. I left Crowley to look out for Uncle Ike, who is always
satisfied if he gets toast and tea."

"Don't you know where they've gone?" inquired Strout.

"Over to the hotel, I guess," said Mandy. "I heard Mr. Sawyer tell Miss
Alice that they had good oysters over there, and she said as how she was
dying to get some raw oysters."

"Things couldn't have worked better," remarked Strout, as he rejoined
Abner, who was smoking a cheap cigar. "The Pettengill crowd has gone
over to the hotel to supper. You ought not to smoke, Abner, if you are
going to kiss the girls to-night," said Strout.

"I guess I sha'n't do much kissin'," replied Abner, "except what I give
my fiddle with the bow, and that fiddle of mine is used to smoke."

Strout looked around and saw that the whole party had assembled. There
were about fifty in all, very nearly equally divided as regarded numbers
into fellows and girls.

"Now I am going ahead," said Strout, "to interview the old lady, before
we jump in on them. The rest of you just follow Abner and wait at the
top of the hill, just round the corner, so that they can't see you from
the house. I have arranged with Hiram to blow his bugle when everything
is ready, and when you hear it you just rush down hill laughing and
screaming and yelling like wild Injuns. Come in the back door, right
into the big kitchen, and when Miss Huldy comes into the room you just
wait till I deliver my speech."

[Illustration: "SAMANTHY GREEN," AS SHE APPEARS IN THE PLAY.]

Stro