Part 8 (2/2)

”And where is my uncle now?” demanded Nellie Winthrop

”At the boomers' ca, ”there is so afoot” And in a feords he told of his father's disappearance and of the search being made to find him

”I sincerely trust he is safe,” said Nellie when he had concluded ”I presume you want to resu the booain,” and she held out her hand

”Do you feel safe enough to find the camp alone?” he asked ”Perhaps I had better take you there It is about a mile in that direction,” and he indicated the locality with a wave of his hand

”I feel safe enough in the open air,” she smiled ”It was only when that Mexican had me cornered in a dark hallway that I felt alarht up on the plains, and I've been to Peoria only to get educated, as they say I've a horse at the livery stable, and I can ride the distance”

”May I ask how you fell in with that greaser?”

”I think he overheardformy uncle was at the place where you found me

I saw hiet some information from irl

Five minutes later they parted at the livery stable, where Nellie had left her horse, and dick went on his way to continue his search for his lost parent The girl had thanked hiain for what he had done and had squeezed his hand so warmly that his heart thumped pretty hard, while his face was flushed more than ever before

CHAPTER VII

OUT ON THE RIVER

For over half an hour longer dick tra for some trace of his father

Presently he found hi the muddy river The strea freely against the shore as the current swung them in

”I wonder if father could have coreat fondness for the water when he got those strange spells”

Slowly and with eyes wide open he moved down the river shore, ready to seize upon any evidence which ht present itself

Suddenly he uttered a cry and leaped down into a rowboat lying before, hi a thousand!”

dick was right There on the stern seat of the craft rested the head-covering Mortimer Arbuckle had worn ever since he had left New York

The tears stood in the youth's eyes as he picked up the hat and inspected it One side of the brim was covered with dirt, and it was still soaked from the rain

”Poor father! Is it possible he fell overboard?”

dick said ”fell overboard,” but he thought so else He kneell as anybody that his father did strange things while under the influence of the melancholy spells which at times haunted hiht but the boats and here and there a mass of driftwood

He sat down on the seat and covered his face with his hands