"Gee, but it's good to get home!" said the twins together. Porky
went back and sat on the arm of his father's chair. Beany
followed his mother into the kitchen. She had hurried out to
wipe her eyes.

"Didn't think we'd be home, did you, mom?" asked Beany,
pretending to look in the sugar bowl.

"I kind of plotted on it," said Mrs. Potter. "I felt like it was
a good thing to be on the safe side." She opened a tin box, and
drew forth a cake, a glorious large, dark, chocolate layer cake.

"Well, what's the news?" asked Porky presently at the table
helping himself to more fried chicken and potatoes and parsnips
and honey.

"Yes, what has happened?" echoed Beany, taking a portion of the
chicken and potatoes, and parsnips, and adding mustard pickle,
and preserved watermelon rind and jam. "Must be something has
happened."

"Yes," said Pop Potter, smiling. "You bin away all of four days.
Long enough for everybody round here to breathe easy for once!"

"Well, things does happen!" said Mrs. Potter. "I saw the Land
boy the other day, and if he ain't drafted!"

"Yes, and what think she says?" Pop Potter exclaimed. "She says,
'So you're drafted? Well, well, ain't you sorry just for your