ct."

"The second?"

"Certainly. The first was the clothing on the shore. It was put there to
create the impression that your son was drowned."

"Yes; we all supposed that he must be."

"By what possible hypothesis a boy should be supposed to take off coat
and waistcoat and wade off-shore into a winter sea is beyond my poor
powers of conjecture," said the other. "No. Somebody 'planted' the
clothes there."

"It seems far-fetched to me," said the Reverend Mr. Prentice doubtfully.
"Who would have any motive for doing such a thing?"

"That is what we have to find out. What time did your son go to his room
the night of his disappearance?"

"Earlier than usual, as I remember. A little before nine o'clock."

"Any special reason for his going up earlier?"

"He wanted to experiment with a new fishing outfit just given him for
his birthday."

"I see. Will you take me to his room?"

They mounted to the boy's quarters, which overlooked the roof of the
side porch from a window facing north. The charred ruins of a barn
about, half a mile away were plainly visible through this window.

"The barn which the meteor destroyed," said the Reverend Mr. Prentice,
pointing it out.

One glance was all that Average Jones bestowed upon a spot which, for
a few days, had been of national interest. His concern was inside
the room. A stand against the wall was littered with bits of shining
mechanism. An unjointed fishing-rod lay on the bed. Near at hand were a
small screw-driver and a knife with a broken blade.

"Were things in this condition when you came to call Bailey in the
morning and found him gone?" asked Average Jones.

"Nothing has been touched," said the clergyman in a low voice.

Average Jones straightened up and stretched himself languidly. His voice
when he spoke again took on the slow drawl of boredom. One might have
thought that he had lost all interest in the case but for the thoughtful
pucker of the broad forehead which belied his halting accents.

"Then--er--when Bailey left here he hadn't any idea of--er--running
away."

"I don't follow you, Mr. Jones."

"Psychology," said Average Jones. "Elementary psychology. Here's your
son's new reel. A normal boy doesn't abandon a brand-new fad when he
runs away. It isn't in boy nature. No, he was taking this reel apart
to study it when some unexpected occurrence checked him and drew him
outside."

"The meteor."

"I made some inquiries in the village on my way, up.