Page:Ned Wilding's Disappearance.djvu/171

Rh "Maybe something has happened to him," suggested Fenn.

"Don't look for trouble, Stumpy," remarked Bart. "It's bad enough as it is."

"However I still think Ned is in New York," Frank went on. "He may be sick or he may have been hurt, which would prevent him communicating with us, or with his father. But that he's in this city I'm sure. Now the thing for us to do is to find him."

"But how?" asked Fenn.

"There are dozens of ways. We must communicate with the police and ask their help."

"Ned wouldn't like that," interposed Bart. "He's not a criminal."

"Of course not," Frank answered. "But the police have to help find lots of persons who are not criminals. If Ned's in trouble we want to know it as soon as possible so we can help him."

"Then the sooner we start the better," suggested Bart. "Where ought we to begin?"

"Let's ask the agent here at the station where Ned's train came in," Frank said. "Perhaps he may have noticed him."

"Not likely," replied Bart. "Too many passengers coming and going."

They made some inquiries, but, as Bart had