The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-02-10

what to do.
'IIol hol' laughed Frank, "IIeedlcs.
Tom on important business Why, he
would be sure to have the Judge and
sheriff under arrest and the burglars al
large. lie cant help doing everything
backward, you know
"Come, Frank, don't be so sharp" said
his mother. "Tom is trying to be more
careful lately, / think"
eyes" said Mr.. Primrose, in teasing
tone, che is not at all like the boy sert
from the Office last week to buy pam
phlet called Westward Hor and who
brought me instead garden hoe"
There was laugh at Toms expense,
but he persisted, coaxingly:
"Do let me go, papa. You know |
wouldn't be careless about your bust
ness"
81 guess you may go, Tom. Now lis.
ten. Find Sheriff Carroll, either at his
house or the court house, and give him
this letter. Take the IL train home, and
be sure you are on time. There is money
for your fare
So Mr.. Primrose departed, while Tom,
highly delighted at the prospect of such
an unexpected little jaunt, went to get
ready. He meant to act through the
whole matter with such caution and
Judgment as to fully convince his father
of the propriety of intrusting him with
the weighticst concerns. And his first
care was to leave for the station in such
good time as to put all fears of his miss
ing the train out of the question
Alas, poor Tom!
'Now, where is my hat?'
The inquiry was a sound of dismay in
the Primrose household. Toms hat was
always missing. There was no spot in
the house, yard, barn or garden, where
it might not be hopefully searched for.
Where did you have it last" his
mother asked. Some one was always sure
to ask that.
II don't know-yes, remember put
ting it on Rover's head, and he ran
away with it. No, found it after that
behind the coal house had it when
we were playing hide and seek last
evening"
Tom was usually LETT to do his own
hunting, but in such an emergency as
this all the family energy was aroused.
Uneasncss gathered in every face as time
went on.
"Let me see your old hat" said his
mother at last But the old hat proved
too shabby to be thought of. Then his
brothers hat was tried, but Frank was
three years older, aud it would not
do.
"Wear it down to Mr.. Ramsay, the
hatter's," said his mother. "Tel him of
your difficulty and he will lend youa hat
for few hours" But Tom did not like
to do this, and he continued his hunt
longer than was prudent. At length his
little sister came from the barn with
nose of triumph and the missing hat. 1t
had been lying in a corner of the hay
loft, where he had hidden the night be
fore. He seized it gratefully and was
off like the wind.
The locomotive was kissing in the
station, as Tom hot and out of breath,
asked for ticket to Homer Then he
felt for his pocket book in one pocket
and then another, growing hotter as he
failed to find it. After thorough
search he concluded, with intense dis
may, that his run must have shaken it
from his pocket. lie knew he had no
time for thought AT a distance of
about half block was situated the of
flee of one of his fathers friends. He
rushed over to it and told his troubles in
a few words
"lIurry, Tom, hurry" said the gentle
man, as already the premonitory puff of
the engine sounded. "Don't stop for
ticket, but board the train if you can;
boy! Halle, ,there!" he shout
ed: "don't let that boy jump on that
train !"
lie ran after Tom as he flew toward
the now moving train, which the boy
was fully resolved to board. But he
was seized by friendly hands.
"You can't do that, my boy-ro, sir,
Is Tom struggled. "lIave you no con
,ern for your life or limbs?"
81 mast go on that train; will, cried
Door Tom,in utter despair. But it moved
on, while few men gathered
lear to inquire into his trouble.
sit was about some business for my
ather," he exclaimed, hardly able to
orce back his tears, as he realized what
terrible failure he had made at the
'utset. "lt was very important, and
What shall | do?"
"Theres freight train going up" said
| brakeman.
"When 2 asked Tom eagerly.
"In about half an hour. It'll be slow,
hough. You'll get to Homer about II,
f that'll do you?"
Tom could only hope it might.
After a ride made long by anxiety he
TODD at last before Sheriff Carroll and
resented his letter, waiting breathlessly
o hear what he might say.
'roo bad too bad | discharged
hose scamps not more than an hour ago
Fell your father that we may stand a
hance of nabbing them yet. I'll
ave all the trains watched, and send
mt on the country roads. That sort are
cry apt to ttrike across country" lie
'uollCu away W beJ IlllllSS moving,
While Tom, full of bitter modification,
lowly walked back to the station.
lie watched eagerly as the return train
anne in, in hope of seeing some kind of
scrimmage, as he mentally expressed
!, which might look like an arrest. But
othing of the sort occurred. He did
ot see even force of policemen draw up
With threatening aspect, as he had ex-
ected, and made up his mind that Car
oil was not up to his duty in this mat
er. His inexperienced gaze failed to
axe notice of two or three keen-eyed
len standing carefully around in plain
lothes who would certainly have pressed
he hospialities of the village of Homer
pom any stray criminal 50 warmly as to
nable them to arrive at speedy decis
On to travel no further at present.
As Tom rode along, he felt too much
oppressed AT first at the very bad result
+ his undertaking to pay much heed