"May I drive?" he asked, eagerly.
"Yes, if you like."
The kind lady supported with her arm Herbert's drooping head, and sothey drove on for a mile, when she indicated that they were to stopin front of a large, substantial, square house, built after the NewEngland style.
Herbert was taken out, and, after Abner helped him upstairs, into alarge, square chamber, with four windows.
"What is his name?" asked the lady.
"Herbert."
"And yours?"
"Abner."
"He had better lie down on the bed, and, as soon as my brothercomes, I will send him up."
Herbert breathed a sigh of satisfaction, as he reclined on thecomfortable bed, which was more like the one he slept in at homethan the rude, straw bed which he had used when boarding with Mr.and Mrs. Barton.
Half an hour passed, and the doctor came into the room, and feltHerbert's pulse.
"The boy is tired out," he said. "That is all. His strength has beenexhausted by too severe physical effort."
"What shall we do to bring him round?" asked his sister.
"Rest and nourishing food are all that is required."
"Shall we keep him here? Have you any objection?"
"I should object to letting him go in his present condition. He willbe a care to you, Emily."
"I shall not mind that. We shall have to keep the other boy, too."
"Certainly. There's room enough for both."
When Abner was told that for a week to come they were to stay in Dr.Stone's comfortable house, his face indicated his satisfaction.
"Ef you've got any chores to do, ma'am," he said, "I'll do 'em. I'mstrong, and not afraid to work."
"Then I will make you very useful," said Miss Stone, smiling.
The next day, as she was sitting in Herbert's chamber, she said:"Herbert, you don't look at all like your brother."
"Do you mean Abner, Miss Stone?" Herbert asked.
"Yes; have you any other brother?"
"Abner is not my brother at all."
"How, then, do you happen to be traveling together?"
"Because we've both run away."
"I am sorry to hear that. I don't approve of boys running away.Where do you live?"
"In New York."
"In New York!" repeated Miss Stone, much surprised. "Surely, youhave not walked from there?"
"No, Miss Stone; I was stolen from my home in New York about a monthago, and left at Abner's house. It was a poor cabin, and verydifferent from anything I was accustomed to. I did not like Mr. andMrs. Barton; but Abner was always kind to me."
"Is your father living?" asked Miss Stone, who had becomeinterested.
"Yes; he is a broker."
"And no doubt you have a nice home?"
"Yes, very nice. It is a brownstone house uptown. I wonder whether Ishall ever see it again?"
"Surely you will. I am surprised that you have not written to tellyour father where you are. He must be feeling very anxious aboutyou."
"I did write, asking him to send me money to come home. Abner wasgoing with me. But no answer came to my letter."
"That is strange. Your father can't have received the letter."
"So I think, Miss Stone; but I directed it all right."
"Do you think any one would intercept it?"
"Mrs. Estabrook might," said Herbert, after a pause forconsideration.
"Who is she?"
"The housekeeper."
"What makes you think so? Didn't she like you?"
"No; besides, it was her nephew who carried me off."
Miss Stone asked further questions, and Herbert told her all theparticulars with which the reader is already acquainted. When he hadfinished, she said: "My advice is, that you write to your boyfriend, Grant Thornton, or tell me what to write, and I will writeto him. His letters will not be likely to be tampered with."
"I think that will be a good idea," said Herbert; "Grant will tellpapa, and then he'll send for me."
Miss Stone brought her desk to the bedside, and wrote a letter toGrant at Herbert's dictation. This letter she sent to the villagepostoffice immediately by Abner.
CHAPTER XXXVI -- GRANT RECEIVES A LETTER
Mr. Reynolds had spared no expense in his efforts to obtain tidingsof his lost boy. None of his agents, however, had succeeded ingaining the smallest clew to Herbert's whereabouts. Through thepublic press the story had been widely disseminated, and inconsequence the broker began to receive letters from various points,from persons professing to have seen such a boy as the onedescribed. One of these letters came from Augusta, Ga., andimpressed Mr. Reynolds to such an extent that he decided to go therein person, and see for himself the boy of whom his correspondentwrote.
The day after he started Grant, on approaching the house at theclose of business, fell in with the postman, just ascending thesteps.
"Have you got a letter for me?" he asked.
"I have a letter for Grant Thornton," was the reply.
"That is my name," said Grant.
He took the letter, supposing it to be from home. He was surprisedto find that it had a Western postmark. He was more puzzled by thefeminine handwriting.
"Have you heard anything from the little boy?" asked the postman,for Mr. Reynolds' loss was well known.
Grant shook his head.
"Nothing definite," he said. "Mr. Reynolds has gone to Georgia tofollow up a clew."
"Two weeks since," said the postman, "I left a letter here dated atScipio, Ill. It was in a boy's handwriting. I thought it might befrom the lost boy."
"A letter from Scipio, in a boy's handwriting!" repeated Grant,surprised. "Mr. Reynolds has shown me all his letters. He hasreceived none from there."
"I can't understand it. I left it here, I am positive of that."
"At what time in the day?" asked Grant, quickly.
"About eleven o'clock in the forenoon."
"Can you tell to whom you gave it?"
"To the servant."
"It is very strange," said Grant, thoughtfully. "And it was in aboy's handwriting?"
"Yes; the address was in a round, schoolboy hand. The servantcouldn't have lost it, could she?"
"No; Sarah is very careful."
"Well, I must be going."
By this time Grant had opened the letter. He had glanced rapidly atthe signature, and his face betrayed excitement.
"This is from Herbert," he said. "You may listen, if you like."
He rapidly read the letter, which in part was as follows:
"DEAR GRANT: I write to you, or rather I have asked Miss Stone, whois taking care of me, to do so, because I wrote to papa two weekssince, and I am afraid he did not get the letter, for I have had noanswer. I wrote from the town of Scipio, in Illinois--
"Just what I said," interrupted the postman.
"I wrote that Mr. Ford had carried me away and brought me out West,where he put me to board in a poor family, where I had scarcelyenough to eat. Mr. Barton had one son, Abner, who treated me well,and agreed to run away with me to New York, if we could get moneyfrom papa. But we waited and waited, and no letter came. So at lastwe decided to run away at any rate, for I was afraid Mr. Ford wouldcome back and take me somewhere else. I can't tell you much aboutthe journey, except that we walked most of the way, and we got verytired--or, at least, I did, for I am not so strong as Abner--till Ibroke down. I am stopping now at the house of Dr. Stone, who is verykind, and so is his sister, who is writing this letter for me. Willyou show papa this letter, and ask him to send for me, if he cannotcome himself? I do so long to be at home once more. I hope he willcome before Willis Ford finds me out. I think he has a spite againstpapa, and that is why he stole me away. Your affectionate friend,
"HERBERT REYNOLDS."
"Please say nothing about this," said Grant to the postman. "I don'twant it known that this letter has come."
"What will you do?"
"I shall start for the West myself to-night."
; "Mrs. Estabrook intercepted that letter," said Grant to himself. "Iam sure of it."
CHAPTER XXXVII -- WILLIS FORD FINDS THE RUNAWAYS
"I shall be absent for a few days, Mrs. Estabrook," said Grant tothe housekeeper, as he entered the house.
"Where are you going?" she inquired.
"I can't tell you definitely."
"Hadn't you better wait till Mr. Reynolds gets back?"
"No; business is not very pressing in the office, and I can bespared."
The housekeeper concluded that Grant was going to Colebrook, and didnot connect his journey with the lost boy.
"Oh, well, I suppose you understand your own business best. Herbertwill miss you if he finds you away when his father brings him back."
"Do you think he will?" asked Grant, eyeing the housekeeper sharply.
"I'm sure I don't know. I suppose he expects to, or he would nothave traveled so far in search of him."
"Shall you be glad to see him back, Mrs. Estabrook?"
"Of course! What makes you doubt it?" demanded the housekeeper,sharply.
"I thought you didn't like Herbert."
"I wasn't always petting him. It isn't in my way to pet boys."
"Do you often hear from Willis Ford?"
"That is my business," answered Mrs. Estabrook, sharply. "Why do youask?"
"I was wondering whether he knew that Herbert had been abducted."
"That is more than we know. Very likely the boy ran away."
Grant called on the cashier at his private residence, confided tohim his plan, and obtained a sum of money for traveling expenses. Heleft the Grand Central Depot by the evening train, and by morningwas well on his way to Chicago.
Meanwhile, Willis Ford had left no stone unturned to obtain news ofthe runaways. This he did not find difficult, though attended withdelay. He struck the right trail, and then had only to inquire, ashe went along, whether two boys had been seen, one small anddelicate, the other large and well-grown, wandering through thecountry. Plenty had seen the two boys, and told him so.
"Are they your sons, mister?" asked a laborer of whom he inquired.
"Not both of them--only the smaller," answered Ford, with unblushingfalsehood.
"And what made them run away now?"
"My son probably did not like the boarding place I selected forhim."
"Why didn't he write to you?"
"He didn't know where to direct."
"Who is the other lad?"
"The son of the man I placed him with. I think he may have inducedSam to run away."
Finally Ford reached Claremont, the town where the boys had actuallyfound refuge. Here he learned that two boys had been taken in by Dr.Stone, answering to the description he gave. One, the younger one,had been sick, but now was better. This information he obtained atthe hotel.
Ford's eyes sparkled with exultation. He had succeeded in his quest,and once more Herbert was in his hands, or would be very soon.
He inquired the way to Dr. Stone's. Everybody knew where the doctorlived, and he had no trouble in securing the information he sought.Indeed, before he reached the house, he caught sight of Abner,walking in the same direction with himself, but a few rods ahead.
He quickened his pace, and laid his hand on the boy's shoulder.
Abner turned, and an expression of dismay overspread his face.
"Ha, my young friend! I see that you remember me," said Ford,ironically.
"Well, what do you want?" asked Abner, sullenly.
"You know well enough. I want the boy you have persuaded to run awaywith you."
"I didn't persuade him."
"Never mind about quibbling. I know where the boy is, and I mean tohave him."
"Do you want me, too?"
"No; I don't care where you go."
"I reckon Herbert won't go with you."
"And I reckon he will. That is Dr. Stone's, isn't it? Never mindanswering. I know well enough it is."
"He'll have bub sure," said Abner, disconsolately. "But I'll follow'em, and I'll get him away, as sure as my name's Abner Barton."
CHAPTER XXXVIII -- FORD TAKES A BOLD STEP, BUT FAILS
"I wish to see Miss Stone," said Willis Ford, to the servant.
"I'll tell her. What name shall I say?"
"Never mind about the name. I wish to see her on business ofimportance."
"I don't like his looks," thought the maid. "Shure he talks as if hewas the boss."
She told Miss Stone, however, that a gentleman wished to see her,who would not tell his name.
Miss Stone was in Herbert's chamber, and the boy--now nearly well,quite well, in fact, but for a feeling of languor and weakness--heardthe message.
"What is he like?" he asked, anxiously.
"He's slender like, with black hair and a black mustache, and hetalks like he was the master of the house."
"I think it is Willis Ford," said Herbert, turning pale.
"The man who abducted you?" ejaculated Miss Stone.
"Yes, the same man. Don't let him take me away," implored Herbert.
"I wish my brother were here," said Miss Stone, anxiously.
"Won't he be here soon?"
"I am afraid not. He has gone on a round of calls. Bridget, tell theyoung man I will be down directly."
Five minutes later Miss Stone descended, and found Willis Fordfuming with impatience.
"I am here, sir," she said, coldly. "I understand you wish to seeme."
"Yes, madam; will you answer me a few questions?"
"Possibly. Let me hear what they are."
"You have a boy in this house, named Herbert Reynolds?"
"Yes."
"A boy who ran away from Mr. Joel Barton, with whom I placed him?"
"What right had you to place him anywhere, Mr. Ford?" demanded thelady.
"That's my business. Permit me to say that it is no affair ofyours."
"I judge differently. The boy is sick and under my charge."
"I am his natural guardian, madam."
"Who made you so, Mr. Ford?"
"I shall not argue that question. It is enough that I claim him asmy cousin and ward."
"Your cousin?"
"Certainly. That doubtless conflicts with what he has told you. Hewas always a liar."
"His story is, that you beguiled him from his home in New York, andbrought him against his will to this part of the country."
"And you believe him?" sneered Ford.
"I do."
"It matters little whether you do or not. He is my sister's child,and is under my charge. I thought fit to place him with Mr. JoelBarton, of Scipio, but the boy, who is flighty, was induced to runaway with Barton's son, a lazy, shiftless fellow."
"Supposing this to be so, Mr. Ford, what is your object in calling?"
"To reclaim him. It does not suit me to leave him here."
Ford's manner was so imperative that Miss Stone became alarmed.
"The boy is not fit to travel," she said. "Wait till my brothercomes, and he will decide, being a physician, whether it is safe tohave him go."
"Madam, this subterfuge will not avail," said Ford, rudely. "I willnot wait till your brother comes. I prefer to take the matter intomy own hands."
He pressed forward to the door of the room, and before Miss Stonecould prevent it, was on his way upstairs. She followed as rapidlyas she could, but before she could reach him, Ford had dashed intothe room where Herbert lay on the bed.
Herbert was stricken with terror when he saw the face of his enemy.
"I see you know me," said Ford, with an evil smile. "Get up at once,and prepare to go with me."
"Leave me here, Mr. Ford. I can't go with you; Indeed, I can't,"said Herbert.
"We'll see about that," said Ford. "I give you five minutes to riseand put on your clothes. If you don't obey me, I will flog you."
Looking into his cruel face, Herbert felt that he had no otherresource. Trembling, he slipped out of bed, and began to draw on hisclothes. He felt he
lpless, but help was nearer than he dreamed.
"Mr. Ford, I protest against this high-handed proceeding," exclaimedMiss Stone, indignantly, as she appeared at the door of the chamber."What right have you to go over my house without permission?"
"If it comes to that," sneered Ford, "what right have you to keep myward from me?"
"I am not his ward," said Herbert, quickly.
"The boy is a liar," exclaimed Ford, harshly.
"Get back into the bed, Herbert," said Miss Stone. "This man shallnot take you away."
"Perhaps you will tell me how you are going to help it," retortedFord, with an evil smile.
"If my brother were here---"
"But your brother is not here, and if he were, I would not allow himto interfere between me and my cousin. Herbert, unless you continuedressing, I shall handle you roughly."
But sounds were heard upon the stairs, and Ford, as well as MissStone, turned their eyes to the door.
The first to enter was Abner.
"Oh, it's you, is it?" said Ford, contemptuously.
He had thought it might be Dr. Stone, whom he was less inclined toface than he professed.
"Yes, it is. What are you doing here?"
"It is none of your business, you cub. He's got to come with me."
"Maybe you want me, too?"