ould really have been better satisfied if he could have hurried
away without seeing K.K.'s mother. He feared that she might delay
progress more or less, and at such a time every minute counted.

But at the same time he realized that the poor lady was in a dreadful
state of mind. It was necessary then that he try and soothe her
anxiety, for, as Horatio knew very well, Hugh Morgan had a way of
making other people feel the utmost confidence in him.

"Well, let's see K.K.'s mother, Horatio; but we mustn't waste much
time. We'll have to get her permission to run the car. I only hope
there's a decent supply of gas aboard, or in the garage."

Accordingly, Horatio led him into another room, where they found
Mrs. Kinkaid in a dreadfully nervous condition. She jumped to her
feet on discovering that Horatio had another boy with him, and then
upon seeing that it was not the one her heart was yearning after
she uttered a pitiful wail, and fell back into her chair again.

Hugh wasted no time, but commenced telling her something of what he
had heard from Horatio, connected with K.K.'s foolish determination
to take in the entire course as though in the race.

"Of a certainty he's fallen and sprained an ankle somewhere along that
cross-country road, Mrs. Kinkaid," he ended with. "We mean to gather
a few of the fellows, and if you'll give us permission to use your
big car we intend to run up there and look that road over from end
to end. There is no doubt but what we'll find K.K. and take him back
with us. So please try and feel at things will turn out all right.
Make up your mind we won't come back without him, that's all there
is to it."

Somehow the very confidence shown in Hugh's words seemed to pass along
to the almost distracted lady. Her eyes lighted up with renewed
courage, and she even smiled, though wanly, it must be confessed. But
then Hugh was pretty much of a magician in regard to arousing a feeling
of hope in the most depressed mind.

"You are a thousand times welcome to the car," she hurriedly assured
him; "and anything else you might want. It is dreadfully unfortunate
Mr. Kinkaid is away on one of his usual business trips to the west,
or he would insist on coming with you. But I feel certain, Hugh, you
will manage things splendidly, and a mother's prayers will go after
you, that you may not only find my boy, but that he may not have been
seriously injured."

"Then we'll not linger any longer, ma'am," s