Part 15 (1/2)
”Oh, nothing, only I want to find him,” said Sam, and to avoid further questioning, he hurried on, pulling Songbird with him.
”If Tom was at the freight house he must have been taking a walk,”
suggested Songbird.
”Perhaps; but I am awfully worried about this.”
It did not take the two students long to reach Ashton, and Sam went directly to the home of Doctor Havens, located in a grove of trees on a side street. A man was was.h.i.+ng down the front piazza with a pail of water.
”Is the doctor in?” asked Sam.
”No, sir, he won't he in until about six o'clock,” said the man.
”How long has he been gone, may I ask?”
”He went to the city directly after breakfast this morning, for a consultation with some other doctors.”
”He hasn't any a.s.sistant?”
”No, sir, but he said if anybody needed a doctor in a hurry to call old Doctor Slate.”
”Where does he live?”
”In the big white house on the hill, opposite the depot.”
”I know the place,” put in Songbird.
”We'll go there,” said Sam. ”Much obliged,” he added, to the man.
”Maybe Tom went there and that is how Lambert came to see him near the freight house,” suggested Songbird.
”We'll soon know,” returned the youngest Rover.
It did not take the students long to cross the railroad tracks and reach Doctor Slate's residence. They found the old doctor out in his garden, tying up some bushes. He was a white-haired gentleman and had given up his regular practice some years before.
”No, there has been no young man to see me,” he said, in answer to Sam's question. ”Old Mrs. Powers was in, and Pop Sloc.u.m, the negro, and that's all.”
”In that case, Tom must be hanging around town, waiting for Doctor Havens to return,” said Songbird.
”It's a puzzle to me,” said Sam, with a deep sigh, and he and his chum walked slowly away.
”I wouldn't worry so much, Sam,” said Songbird, sympathetically. ”I am sure it will be all right.”
”It would be if Tom was all right in his head, Songbird. But you know how he acted that day Stanley and Spud went into the old well hole, and----”
”Well, what could happen to him in Ashton, such a sleepy country town as this is? Oh, he's around somewhere and will soon turn up, take my word for it.”
They found the depot deserted, for it was a time of day when there were no trains. Then they walked up the main street, past the stores and the Eclipse photo playhouse. The afternoon performance was just over at the show place and a crowd of about a hundred, mostly women and children, was pouring forth. In the crowd were a burly, jolly looking farmer and a pretty girl, his daughter.
”Why, Mr. Sanderson!” cried Songbird, his face lighting up. ”And you, Minnie! This is a surprise!” and he shook hands.
”Oh!” cried the girl, and smiled sweetly. ”I didn't expect to see you here.”