Page:Ned Wilding's Disappearance.djvu/125

Rh "Maybe she can send me to uncle's lawyer and he can help me," he said to himself. His aunt came downstairs at that moment and he decided to make an attempt to gain an idea of how to proceed.

"Do you know anything about stocks, aunt?" asked Ned.

"Stocks? Mercy, no! I leave all that to your uncle. I have trouble enough—"

The door bell rang and Mrs. Kenfield opened it. A boy handed her a telegram. Her hands shook as she opened it.

"Jane is worse," she said as she read the second brief dispatch. "I must hurry off soon. Now Ned, I can't tell you how sorry I am, but you had better arrange to go home at once. I will take the noon train for Chicago. What time can you get one back to Darewell?"

"At four this afternoon."

"Then you had better take it. Mary, hurry packing those trunks. Then get your own things ready."

"Mine are all packed, Mrs. Kenfield," the girl replied.

"All right then. See that the house is well locked up. Don't leave any victuals around where they will spoil. Shut all the blinds and fasten