ephew?" asked the one.

"No. Have you seen anything of Jimmy?" was the reply of the other.

"They were talking together at the fence about an hour ago," said
Billy's aunt. "Possibly they are down at the livery stable with Sam
Lamb; I'll phone and find out."

"And I'll ring up Mrs. Black and Mrs. Hamilton. They may have gone to
see Lina or Frances."

In a short time both women appeared on their porches again:

"They have not been to the stable this morning," said Miss Minerva
uneasily, "and Sam went to Memphis on the excursion train."

"And they are not with Lina or Frances,"--Mrs. Garner's face wore an
anxious look, "I declare I never saw two such children. Still, I don't
think we need worry as it is nearly dinner time, and they never miss
their meals, you know."

But the noon hour came and with it no hungry little boys. Then, indeed,
did the relatives of the children grow uneasy. The two telephones were
kept busy, and Mr. Garner, with several other men on horseback, scoured
the village. Not a soul had seen either child.

At three o'clock Miss Minerva, worn with anxiety and on the verge of a
collapse, dropped into a chair on her veranda, her faithful Major by her
side. He had come to offer help and sympathy as soon as he heard of her
distress, and, finding her in such a softened, dependent, and receptive
mood, the Major had remained to try to cheer her up.

Mr. and Mrs. Garner were also on the porch, discussing what further
steps they could take.

"It is all the fault of that William of yours," snapped one little boy's
mother to the other little boy's aunt: "Jimmy is the best child in the
world when he is by himself, but he is easily led into mischief."

Miss Minerva's face blazed with indignation.

"William's fault indeed!" she answered back. "There never was a sweeter
child than William;" for the lonely woman knew the truth at last. At
the thought that her little nephew might be hurt, a long forgotten
tenderness stirred her bosom and she realized for the first time how the
child had grown into her life.

The telegram came.

"They are all right," shouted Mr. Garner joyously, as he quickly opened
and read the yellow missive, "they went on the excursion and Sam Lamb is
bringing them home on the accommodation."

As the Major, short, plump, rubicund, jolly, and Miss Minerva, tall,
sallow, angular, solemn, were walking to the station to meet the train
that was bringing home the runaways, the elderly love