The "trap" for Dr. Tilton worked successfully. He scorned the idea that he
might need the meeting. This he said to himself. However, he would help
the choir sing, he said, to his niece. But a trap for Will Somers! Who
could make that?

"Won't you come to the meeting to hear us sing?" asked Charlie, with a sad
face.

"O, you don't want me, Charlie," replied Will. "O, I can't go."

Aunt Stanshy made no remark. She sat silently, busily thinking, while
Charlie and Will talked about the meeting. Aunt Stanshy was making a
"trap."

The day before that appointed for the temperance meeting, she went to her
pastor.

"Mr. Walton, the meeting will begin at half past seven. If--if--say about
quarter after seven--you should let Charlie and the other boys go down to
the church door and sing one or two of their pieces, it might draw folks
in."

"Why, that's a good idea, and I wish you would ask them."

At a quarter after seven the next night the White Shields, each carrying a
neat cross of blue on his badge, appeared at the church door and began to
sing. It was the night when Dr. Tilton was accustomed to close his store
earlier than usual, if customers did not appear; and at a quarter after
seven Will Somers was accustomed that night to pass the church door on his