按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
54
… Page 55…
The Fifth String
In due time Colonel Franklin and his party reached home； hungry after
their fine sail on the river； and all in high spirits。
‘‘Jedge； you and the boys sit right down； and we'll have supper in a
jiffy。''
The guests thoroughly enjoyed the evening meal。 The repast was about
concluded when Edith； who had just returned from the parsonage； came in；
and called cheerily：
‘‘Hurry up； Lily； it's time to go to the festival。 They're going to light up
thet tree at half…past eight； and it's nearly that now。''
‘‘Why； chil'； Lily ain't here。 She's wif yo' folks；'' exclaimed Delia。
‘‘With us？ She hasn't been with us at all；'' responded Edith。
‘‘It's likely she's at one of the neighbors；'' ventured the Colonel。
‘‘I'll fin' her； Muster Franklin； an' I'se gwine to scol' her good an' hard
fo' worryin' her ol' mammy。 At this she put a shawl over her head and
shoulderst and started in search of the absent one
‘‘Suppose I go too；'' suggested Gilbert； rising。
‘‘I don't think that's necessary；'' interposed the Colonel。
‘‘It'll only take me a minute；'' assured the son； as he began to put on
his overcoat。
‘‘Go if you like then；'' consented the Colonel。
‘‘An' if yer don't mind； Miss Deed；'' volunteered Sandy； ‘‘I'll go up to
church with yer； an' then come back an' fetch Lily and Gil。''
‘‘That's a good idea；'' answered Edith； ‘‘bring her right over to the
church； and I'll be waiting for you there。''
‘‘I guess I'll go up to my house an' look。 Mebbe Lily is playin' with
Zorah； an' if she is； I'll come right back an' tell yer；'' put in Dink。
Edith； Delia and the three boys departed； leaving the Colonel and the
Jedge alone； smoking their pipes and discussing the sensational events of
the week； in which Dennis Foley was the central figure。
The conversation was stopped by the appearance of Delia and Gilbert；
who declared that not one of the neighbors had seen Lillian that afternoon。
‘‘It seems almost incredible that she could be lost；'' said the father；
‘‘she must be somewhere about here。 Perhaps she went to the church； and
fell asleep in one of the pews。''
55
… Page 56…
The Fifth String
The searching party set out once more； this time accompanied by the
Colonel himself； and by the Jedge。 At the church they heard from Sandy
and Dink that no trace of the child had been found； so the father requested
the minister to inquire of the congregation if the missing one had been
seen anywhere。 There was no response from those present； and the family
and friends began to show grave concern。
Another effort at finding her was immediately made。 The police
sergeant was notified； and he sent out a general alarm。
All night long； and all the next day the hunt was continued。 Wells were
explored； basements； cellars and out…of…the…way places were ransacked；
lumber yards and coal yards were gone through most carefully。 In fact； not
a foot of the town was left unsearched； but all to no avail； and the once
happy home of the Franklins was steeped in sorrow and despair。
The morning after Lillian's disappearance； Mrs。 Foley inquired of the
boys in the neighborhood if they had seen anything of her son Tom； who；
she declared； had been gone since the previous morning。
From Sandy she learned that Tom had taken dinner at Gilbert's the day
before； but that when the party had started for the river he had dropped out；
claiming he was too down…hearted to join in the pleasure。
‘‘That's the way he acted at home；'' said the widow； ‘‘and it seemed to
me it was almost unnacheral for him to talk against his father； as he did。
However； I'm not bothered about him； for he comes and goes just as he
pleases； and when he gets good and ready he'll turn up； like a bad penny。
I've stopped worryin' about him years an' years ago。''
‘‘If I see Tom；'' volunteered the boy； ‘‘I'll tell him yer want him；''and
he hurried away。
The next morning Sandy left home earlier than usual； and on his own
account began a search for Lillian。 A new theory had taken possession of
him； and he started at once for the river。 At the magazine gate he chatted
with the sentry about the mysterious disappearance； and passed on。 When
he reached the shore half a mile beyond； he was surprised to find that the
padlock on the door of the shed had been pried off； and that his boat was
missing。
Opening the door he saw that his oars and blankets were gone； and he
56
… Page 57…
The Fifth String
began to feel that his theory might lead him to important discoveries。 For
fully five minutes he stood motionless； and gazed into the river； buried
deep in his own thoughts。 Then he soliloquized： ‘‘I wonder if Lily's been
stolen？ S'pose； while we've been searchin' fer her high an' low； Foley an'
the galoot what whacked me jest took the little girl an' carried her off in
my boat？ That 'ere story 'bout Dennis Foley buyin' a ticket for Philadelphy
struck me as fishy when I fust heerd it； an' now I don't believe it a t'all。
They couldn't git through the magazine gate 'thout the guards seein' them；
an' whoever took my boat either came up the shore or down the shore。
'Tain't likely they came from up shore； 'cause they could 'a' found a
hundred boats 'tween here an' the upper bridge。''
Turning around； Sandy started down the beach toward the cemetery。
He was studying carefully the ground beyond the point of high tide； and in
a few moments reached the ravine where； two nights before； the three
abductors had stopped； upon hearing Colonel Franklin and his sailing
party approach。
‘‘Well； I'll be durned；'' he exclaimed； for in the sand before his very
eyes was the impress of four pairs of shoes。 Two were evidently those of
men； one small enough to be that of a boy； and one so tiny as to convince
him it was that of a child。
‘‘This is the way they come；'' he con… tinued； ‘‘and there wuz three of
'em in the gang besides the little one； an' I'm sure er that。''
He followed the footprints until he reached the old wharf。 Peering
through the rotten timbers； he said：
‘‘That's a rum ol' hole。 I don't believe Satan hisself would go in there；
but I'm goin'； an' see what I kin see。''
Sandy had no difficulty in entering the cave； which he found strewn
with whisky bottles； pieces of bread and newly…picked bones； evidence
enough that some one had been there but a short time before。 Penetrating
deeper in his search； he made a find of the utmost importance。 Lying at
one side； and near a bed of rags； was an envelop addressed to Dennis
Foley； and； on a peg which had been driven into the wall； was hanging an
old hat； which he had often seen on Hildey's head。
Elated at the results of his quest； he began to retrace his steps； and in
57
… Page 58…
The Fifth String
eager haste he left the cave。 Picking his way along the slimy stones under
the wharf； he soon neared the outlet and there was startled by the most
significant of all his discoveries。 Right before him lay the identical hoop
which he had given the lost child only Christmas Day； and which bore the
inscription； ‘‘From Sandy Coggles to Lillian Franklin。''
Every suspicion now was confirmed； and he was sure he knew the
culprits。 Taking the hoop； he returned to his boat… house with all possible
speed； and leaping into his skiff； paddled up the river； his eyes scanning
the marsh lines on either bank of the channel。 Arriving at the bridge； he
learned by inquiry from the tender stationed there that he had not seen the
Lillian coming up stream within the past three days。
‘‘But；'' explained the bridge…tender； ‘‘I'm only on from six to six
during daylight； and of course if anything comes through at night I
wouldn't know about it。 I'm pretty sure； though； there's been nothing up
this way for a month of Sundays； 'cept Buck Wesley； who creeped up 'bout
two hours ago； following a gang of ducks that use