Ned Wilding's Disappearance/Chapter 12
CHAPTER XII
NED STARTS OFF
Ned and Bart went to Fenn's house, where they found Frank. The two were just on the point of starting out.
"Did you get your relic home safe?" asked Bart of Frank.
"You mean the clock dial? I did, though I thought at one time the wind would blow it away. I got that black stuff whatever it was on it, all over my clothes."
"Was it paint?" asked Ned.
"No, seemed like some kind of smoke. I had hard work to get it off my hands."
"Come on!" called Fenn. "There are crowds going to see the tower."
"Well, what of it?" asked Ned. "They can't carry it away; can they?'
"No," replied Fenn, "but they'll all get around it and we can't see anything."
"Oh we'll get you a pair of opera glasses," rejoined Frank.
"I guess you're all just as anxious to see it as I am," said Stumpy. "Come on."
A fine, calm day, though cold, had succeeded the blustery one. As Fenn had said, the streets were filled with a large throng hastening to see the wreck of the tower. The falling of it had created more excitement than had been known in Darewell for some years.
"Say, you fellows are all right," called Jim Nelson, as the four chums passed him. "That was a fine yell you gave. I'd a joined in, only—"
"Too much work, eh?" asked Frank, for Jim had the reputation, not altogether undeserved, of being the laziest boy in town.
"No, it wasn't that exactly," Jim replied, "but I couldn't remember the words."
"Why didn't you come in on the tune?" asked Ned.
"Um," was all Jim said. It was his usual reply when he did not want to take the trouble to answer in words. "Say," he called a moment later, as the chums kept on, "are you going to the tower?"
"Yes; are you?" inquired Fenn.
"I was, but if you're going that way would you do me a favor?"
"What is it?" asked Ned.
"Stop on your way back and tell me how it looks. No use of me going if you are. I'll wait in the drug store here for you," and Jim turned into the "Emporium."
"We may not be back until late this afternoon," Fenn said.
"That's all right, I'm in no hurry. I can wait here as well as anywhere else," and Jim went into the store and took a seat on one of the stools at the soda fountain, from whence he could look out of the window.
"Well, if that isn't the limit!" exclaimed Ned.
"It's a wonder he didn't ask us to bring the tower around for him to look at," said Bart.
"He would, only he was too lazy to think of it," remarked Frank.
The boys found quite a crowd around the fallen mass of bricks, and many were the comments on the accident.
"Let's go up and take a look at where the roof was broken through," suggested Ned.
The chums started to enter the school intending to go to the auditorium, but, as they reached the stairs, for the building was open, they were met by Mr. Williamson, president of the Board of Education.
"You can't go in, boys," he said pleasantly enough.
"Is it dangerous?" asked Ned.
"Well, that's what we're trying to find out. We have some workmen looking over the ruins to see what repairs we will have to make. There's quite a hole in the roof."
"Will it interfere with the opening of school next week?" asked Bart.
"Do you wish it would?" asked Mr. Williamson.
The boys laughed, for the president had read their thoughts.
"We hope not," Mr. Williamson went on. "By the way, you boys know almost everything that goes on in Darewell? Did you happen to hear of any one carrying off one of the clock dials? We can only find three in the ruins, and there were four."
"I took one home with me last night," said Frank promptly. "I wanted it for a relic. I hope there was no harm in that."
"None in the world, if you still have it," said Mr. Williamson. "You see we are trying to find out just what caused the tower to be blown down by the wind, and we want all the evidence we can get. Just keep the dial safely and, the next time you come up toward my store, leave it for me. You may have it back again after we are through with it, for we'll have to have a whole new clock I expect."
"Wonder what he expects to find from the clock face?" asked Ned, as the boys went back on the campus to get another look at the fallen tower.
"Probably wants to look into its open countenance and ask questions about how it feels to be blown down," Bart replied.
"I hadn't any idea they'd want that piece of the clock, or I'd never have taken it," said Frank. "Lucky I saved it, or someone else might have carried it off and they'd never get it again."
They took another look at the tower, though there was little they had not already seen, and then on Stumpy's invitation to have some hot chocolate they strolled back to the "Emporium." They found Jim still there, but he seemed to have fallen asleep.
"Put some chocolate near him, and see if he wakes up," suggested Ned in a whisper.
The clerk, at the boys' request, placed a glass of the steaming liquid close to Jim's hand as it rested on the marble counter. Jim opened his eyes, looked at the beverage, glanced at the four chums waiting expectantly and then—closed his eyes again without reaching for the chocolate.
"He's lost his chance," Fenn said. "I'll drink it myself."
He did so, and, as the boys were leaving, Jim appeared to rouse from his slumber. He seemed to remember the chocolate, for he put out his hand as if to grasp it. His fingers closed on the empty air.
"Did I drink it?" he asked of the chums, who stood laughing at him.
"Must have," replied Ned.
"I don't remember," Jim said, in puzzled tones. "But it's all right. I'm sleepy to-day. Is the tower still—?" Then the exertion of talking seemed to be too much for him, and he closed his eyes again.
"Come on," said Ned. "I've got to get home and make arrangements for my New York trip."
"Oh, yes, and I must find out when I can go," Bart added. "We can have jolly sport there, fellows."
There were several family councils that night. Ned's plans were all made, and he had but to pack his trunk, ready to leave on the following Monday morning. The other chums, though, had to consult their relatives. It was inconvenient for some to let the boys go Tuesday, and Thursday did not suit any better. Finally a compromise was made and Wednesday, following the Monday on which Ned was to start, was fixed on.
Then came an announcement which changed the plans of the boys to some extent. Late Saturday afternoon it was stated that the damage to the school had been greater than was at first supposed. It would be impossible to make repairs so that classes might assemble the second week in January, and the institution was to close for a month. Not until February first, President Williamson stated, would the school open again.
"Say, this will just suit us!" cried Ned as he and his chums discussed the news that night. "We can stay so much longer. I know my aunt will be glad to see us, and the longer vacation we have the better she will like it. She's fond of boys. All hers are grown up. She said I was to come and stay a month if I wanted to."
"Fine!" exclaimed Bart. "I'll have to pack a few more clothes in my trunk if we are to be gone longer than we first calculated.
"So will I," cried Fenn.
"Then it's all settled," said Ned. "I'll go Monday and you follow Wednesday. You can find your way to the house I guess. It's on West Forty-fourth street. Here's the number. I'll be there to welcome you. Won't we have fun though! I've never been in New York."
The others had not either, and they spent some time discussing the pleasant prospects ahead of them.
Monday morning they all went down to the depot to see Ned off.
"Good-bye until Wednesday," he called to his chums as they stood on the platform waving their hands to him. "I'll meet you in New York sure."
But it was a long time before Ned kept his promise.