"Well, you kin git there by goin' on a mile further and taking the
main road that goes through Sayreville," said the boy, his mouth
full of candy.

"Would that be nearer than going back to where we made the mistake?"
Betty asked.

"Yep, a lot nearer. Come on; I'll show you as far as I'm goin'," and the
boy started off as though the task--or shall I say, pleasure?--of leading
four pretty girls was an every-day occurrence.

"We never can get there before dark," declared Mollie.

"Oh, yes, we will," said Betty, hopefully. "We can walk faster
than this."

"If you do I'll simply give up," wailed Grace. "These shoes!" and she
leaned against a tree.

And to the eternal credit of the other girls be it said that they did not
remark: "I told you so!"

Silently and unconcernedly, the snub-nosed boy led them on. Finally
he came to his own home, and rather ungallantly, did not offer to
go farther.

"You jest keep on for about half a mile," he said, "an' you'll come to a
cross-road."