Page:Ned Wilding's Disappearance.djvu/17

Rh A few seconds later there sounded the noise of several feet on the stairs. A moment afterward three lads hurried into the room. They had just come from school, but Bart had not attended the afternoon session.

"Hello Frank!" cried Bart. "Howdy, Stumpy? How are you, Ned?"

"What's the matter?" asked Ned, noticing the bandage on Bart's hand.

"Oh, hurt myself with the gun. Went off before I was ready."

"The gun!" exclaimed Frank.

"Got a new gun?" asked Fenn.

"Let's see it," demanded Ned.

"Here she is," exclaimed Bart, and then, forgetting his sore hand, he took from the corner a fine shotgun. "It's a beauty," he went on. "It's got patent—"

"Oh! Oh!" screamed Alice. "Your hand!"