The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-08-09

When Tom did not appear for sup
per, Mrs. Cornwiler began to fret, but
not much, for he was often late. After
supper, with no Tom TO do the chores,
Mr.. Cornwiler grumbled. but did them
himself. saying:
Come, now, wife. the boy probably
has a good excuse He's pretty regu.
lar, considering"
BY bedtime Mrs. Cornwiler was
anxious.
I'm sure he's lying hurt somewhere
I'm the woods. fallen from n tree; or
maybe he's got lost"
"Pshaw. now. Edith! Tom couldn't
lose himself anywhere In this county
the darkest night that ever was; and
he doesn't know how to fall from a
tree. He'll he home all right pretty
soon. Likely he's hlndcred by some
thing he thinks important"
At ten o'clock Mrs. Cornwller was
inslstent and Cornwiler less confident
He proposed to take the dog and
search.
Maybe he's ut one OF the nelghbors.
He'd stay. of course, II he could be of
any use. Anyhow. Ban'll track him.
Blow the horn II he comes home while
I'm gone"
Ban, being told TO "Go find Tom
set off joyfully, waggng his tail. He
led Cornwilcr straight TO the charred
stub. and barked, lcaplng against II.
Cornswier looked the stub all over.
There were no signs of Tom. He
called. and fred his rifle. There was
no reply. He supposed the stub solid,
but thumpcd II. Unfortunately the
blow struck where the shell was thick,
and where Tom had packed the debris
hardest inside. 1t sounded solid. Mr..
Cornwller thought that Ban had fool.
lshly tracked n squirrel UP II, or per
haps n coon had been there and gone.
He dragged the dog away, ordering
him again to Find Tomw Ban in.
stantly ran back to the stub. and
whlned and scratched. but Mr.. Corn.
wiler pulled him away.
Ban then led into thicket. and
here were signs-a slender pole cut and
trimmed. u bitternut sapllng peeled OF
two strips OF bark. Tom had been
there. The sapling was slender for a
tish.pole. but Mr.. Cornwller thought
that must he II. The strips OF bark
meant strings. but what Tom wanted
OF strings he could not conjecture
Having concluded II meant iishing, h,
hurried to the river. his anxiety con
slderably increased. Tom was q
strong. cool swimmer and knew every
foot of the river. There were few deeI
places, and no really dangerous places
Mr.. Cornwiler searched long time
but found no trace OF Tom. and Bar
seemed puzzled and not much inter
ested. After midnight Cornwiler be
gan a terribly anxious inquiry. rousinl
nclgbbor after nelghbor. No one hat
any tidings. Mr.. Mlllwaite dressed
took his rifle. and accompanied Corn
wiler Mrs. Millwalte. notwlthstand
ing her depreciation of Tom. went &
cheer an comfort his mother all sh
could.
Millwaitc suggested going first {
the charred stub. You know Tom
been there" he said. "and it's th
right point to start from" AS 500
as they arrived. Ban began whinin
and scratching about the stub. Corr
wiler stcrnly ordered him of. and th
poor dog. probably supposing 1t was a
right. reluctantly obeyed. Both me
believed the stub solid. and that TOT
had merely come and gone. The new
OF the lost boy spread. and by sunris
dozen men and boys were scourin
the woods
After getting breakfast and doin
the housework. Clara Millwaite, WI
had been thinking. concluded tina
Tom must. after all. be at or near n
charred stub. "a dog never mistake
In such matters; men do" the sensib
girl reasoned. She would go aud tai
look for herself