d
and blue handkerchief, to keep his head from aching. And he wrote that
he didn't think he was cut out for college, that he would rather shovel
nuggets in a gold mine--that is just what he wrote--'shovel nuggets in
a gold mine!' Oh, such a mixed-up letter you never read! And it made
Nellie cry again. Oh, Sam, what does it mean?"

He shook his head and gave a deep sigh.

"I don't know, Grace. It scares me almost as much as it has Nellie.
Maybe Tom ought to be put in a sanitarium."

"Oh, do you think he is really out of his mind?"

"It almost looks that way. Poor Tom! and he was always so bright and
full of fun!"

"But what can--Oh, Sam, here is Nellie now!" cried Grace, as her sister
appeared and ran towards them.

"Oh, Sam, I just met Mr. Sanderson and he said you were looking for
Tom!" cried Nellie, as she came closer.

"That's true, Nellie."

"He hasn't been here--at least I haven't seen him."

"So Grace just told me," Sam tried to look at the girl in front of him,
but had to turn his gaze away. He knew only too well how much Nellie
thought of his brother.

"Did he--he run away?" burst out Nellie.

"I don't know about that, Nellie," said Sam, and told his story over
again, just as he had related it to her sister.

Nellie burst into tears, and Sam and Grace did their best to comfort
her. Grace's own eyes were moist, and Sam had all he could do to keep
from breaking down likewise.

"Oh, he is gone, I am sure of it!" cried Nellie. "He is not himself at
all! For all we know he may have thrown himself into the river! Oh,
what shall we do? What can we do?" and she wrung her hands.

"Don't take it so hard, Nellie, it may not be so bad after all," said
her sister, soothingly. "Tom may be back to Brill by this time."

For several minutes the matter was talked over. Then Mr. Sanderson
appeared, ready to return to Ashton for his daughter.

"I'll help you hunt for Tom," said the bluff farmer. "I know he must
be somewhere around. Don't you worry so," for he could see that Nellie
had been crying.

"Send word at once, when you do find him," begged Nellie, as the buggy
drove away, and Sam promised.

On the way back to town but little was said. Near Brill they met quite
a few students and the youngest Rover asked them if they had seen his
brother. All replied in the negative.

When Ashton was reached it was dark, and they drove around to the
hotel. Songbird and Minnie had been dining, and t