aptain Clinton said, "but I cannot blame
him. I think it was natural that he should go as he did. He would have
thought that had he written to me it would have seemed as if he wanted
something from me, and anything would have seemed better to him than
that. However, we must set about doing something at once. I shall go by
the nine o'clock local to Swindon, and on by the night mail to town.
Then I shall set a detective at work. He may find out from the porters
if anyone noticed a lad arrive by the night mail this morning, and shall
draw up carefully-worded advertisements. I shall write to Mr.
River-Smith before I start. What would you like, Rupert--to go back
to-morrow, or to stay away until the end of the term? If you take my
advice, you will go back; it would be a pity for you to miss your
examinations."

"I don't think I could get through the examinations, father, with this
on my mind; besides, what should I say to the fellows about Edgar's
going away? You see, if we find him before next term begins, we need say
nothing about it."

"You would have to account for his having run away, Rupert, anyhow. I
think you had better go back, my boy, and tell the facts of the story.
There is not the slightest discredit in it, and it would be better for
Edgar himself that it should be known that he went under the influence
of a mistake than that all sorts of reasons should be assigned for his
absence. There will, of course, be no occasion to go into full details.
You would tell the story of the confusion that arose as to the children,
and say that Edgar had received some information which led him
erroneously to conclude that the problem was solved, and that he was not
my son, and that therefore he had run away so as to avoid receiving any
further benefits from the mistake that had been made."

"Perhaps that would be best, father. Indeed I don't know what I should
do if I were to stop here now with nothing to do but to worry about
him."

"I am sure it will be best, Rupert. I will tell your master you will
return to-morrow afternoon."

Captain Clinton went up to town by the night mail, and in the morning
went to a private detective's office. After giving particulars of
Edgar's age and appearance he went on: "As he had no luggage with him,
and there was nothing particular about his personal appearance, I
consider it altogether useless to search for him in London; but I think
it possible that he may try to enlist."

"Sixteen is