at the same time farther
from home.

* * * * *

When the pupils filed into the schoolroom after recess, Miss Gilman missed
Prue and Hi, and questioned a number of scholars in regard to them.

"I seen 'em a-settin' on a stump back er the school," volunteered one
small boy, "Want me ter go'n look for 'em?"

Permission given him, the boy ran out, delighted with the thought that he
might thus elude one recitation; but a long search failing to discover the
missing children, he was obliged to return with the information that he
had looked everywhere and they weren't "anywheres 'raound the place."

"Possibly they have gone home," said Miss Gilman, but a vague uneasiness
took possession of her, and when the afternoon session commenced with both
children absent, she determined to call after school at the Weston's and
see if Prue were safe, at the same time sending the Babson girls home in
haste to learn if Hi could be found.

When Prue did not return at noon, Mrs. Weston was not alarmed, as the
little girl often stayed at the school when, as on this day, she had in
her little basket a hearty lunch, and before Prue could have possibly
reached home in the afternoon Miss Gilman, with a desperate attempt to
appear calm, called to ask if the little girl had been unable to attend
the afternoon session.

"Ill? Why no, indeed! Why, what is it you say, Miss Gilman? That Prue has
not been at school since the morning recess?"

The color left Mrs. Weston's cheek, and she leaned heavily upon the table,
while Aunt Prudence, speaking with more confidence than she really felt,
exclaimed,

"Now it's no use gettin' frightened. She's likely enough in someone's
house as safe as can be, and what we've got ter do is ter harness up an'
call at the houses where Prue is acquainted an' she'll be with us before
dark, I'll warrant ye."

Just at this point, Belinda Babson breathless and excited, ran in at the
door crying wildly,

"Oh, Miss Gilman, Mrs. Weston! Little Hi isn't at our house and a man just
told father that he saw Hi and Prue sitting on the stone wall away over on
the mill road, and that was long before noon time. Where can they be now?
Mother's just wild and Aunt Drusilla's lost every idea she ever had. She's
just wringing her hands and crying, and a saying that she's afraid that
they're lost and wont be found."

Mr. Weston, coming in from the barn, heard Belinda's words and saw her
frightened face