Part 3 (1/2)

And when it said: ”What do you do?”

He always did just right.

VI

He memorized the map from Chestnut Hill to Steven's Run; He didn't have to draw a scale, As we have always done; He _knew_ that you could see Five-Six-- Ty-Six from Six-O-One.

VII

And then this tragic episode Of which I write occurred.

It happened sometime in the night Of June the 23rd That Montmorency stole away, And left no sign or word.

VIII

We found at dawn that he had gone And left us in the lurch.

The Colonel sent detachments out For miles around to search; A strong patrol to every knoll, To every house, and church.

IX

They found no trace in any place; It caused a lot of talk; They wired down to every town From Plattsburg to New York.

As it was plain he took no train He must have had to walk.

X

'Twas well into the Fall before The mystery was cleared.

(They'd never heard a single word Since Monty disappeared), When the Colonel had a caller, An old farmer, with a beard.

XI

He said his name was Topper, And he lived in Table Rock, And what he told the Colonel Gave the Old Man quite a shock; They were closeted together Until after ten o'clock.

XII

From Gettysburg to Plattsburg Mr. Topper came to say How he'd found a man in uniform Down near his home one day, Who, judging from his clothing, must Have walked a long, long way.

XIII

He told the sad and tragic tale Of how he came to find, While on his way to Hershey's Mill With a load of corn to grind, The young man wandering on a hill, And wandering in his mind.

XIV