the railroad embankment.

Men began to come back into the village for breakfast by twos and
threes, though many kept on searching the woods, not feeling the need of
food, or caring if they did. Every grove and clump of underbrush, every
thicket, was ransacked; the waters of the creek, shallow for the most
part, but swollen overnight, were dragged at every pool. Nothing was
found; there was not a sign.

The bar of the hotel was thronged all morning as the returning citizens
rapidly made their way thither, and those who had breakfasted and were
going out again paused for internal, as well as external, reinforcement.
The landlord, himself returned from a long hunt, set up his whiskey with
a lavish hand.

"He was the best man we had, boys," said Landis, as he poured the
little glasses full. "We'd ort of sent him to the legislative halls of
Washington long ago. He'd of done us honor there; but we never thought
of doin' anything fer him; jest set 'round and let him build up the
town and give him empty thankyes. Drink hearty, gentlemen," he finished,
gloomily, "I don't grudge no liquor to-day--except to Lige Willetts."

"He was a good man," said young William Todd, whose nose was red, not
from the whiskey. "I've about give up."

Schofields' Henry drew his sleeve across his eyes. "He was the only man
in this whole city that didn't jab and nag at me when I done my best,"
he exclaimed, with an increasing break in his utterance. "Many a good
word I've had from him when nobody in town done nothin' but laugh an'
rile an' badger me about my--my bell." And Schofields' Henry began to
cry openly.

"He was a great hand with the chuldern," said one man. "Always have
something to say to 'em to make 'em laugh when he went by. 'Talk more to
them 'n he would to grown folks. Yes, sir."

"They knowed _him_ all right," added another. "I reckon all of us did,
little and big."

"It's goin' to seem mighty empty around here," said Ross Schofield.
"What's goin' to become o' the 'Herald' and the party in this district?
Where's the man to run either of 'em now. Like as not," he concluded
desperately, "the election'll go against us in the fall."

Dibb Zane choked over his four fingers. "We might's well bust up this
dab-dusted ole town ef he's gone."

"I don't know what's come over that Cynthy Tipworthy," said the
landlord. "She's waited table on him last two year, and her brother Bud
works at the 'Herald' office. She didn't say a word--only