"JASPER, are the boys here?" and Forbes peered into the shed where they were so often to be found.
"No; Phil has got a day's work taking round circulars, and I expect Rob's with him. Anyhow, I haven't seen either of them this morning."
"Well, their father has been knocked down by a runaway horse, and badly hurt, I'm afraid; anyhow, his leg is broken in two places. We've taken him to the Infirmary, and I've been round to their room, but it's locked up, and the folk downstairs don't know where Mrs. Mellor has gone."
"Broken his leg, eh? That's a long job."
"Yes, three months at least, the doctor said."
"Well, Forbes, 'pon my word I don't know that it's a bad thing; he'll have to keep from the drink for certain, and then I should think his wife and boys would have a better chance without him, for what they pick up he spends."
Forbes shrugged his shoulders. "Humph! I don't know but what you're right; but there, I think Phil's fond of his father in a way. Rob's afraid of him, and no wonder, poor little chap. It seems to me you're his father, Jasper; anyhow, he spends most of his time here, according to his own accounts."
"Yes, he's always welcome to what I have, though that isn't much; and I do really look out for their coming in."
"Well, if you see either of them, or the wife, just tell them what's happened, will you? He's all safe up at the Infirmary, and they can go up as soon as they like. I've left word round at their place; but maybe they'll drop in here first."
But ill news travels fast, and as Phil and Rob were together distributing circulars in quite another part of Helmstone, the tidings reached them of their father's accident. One of the Mission Hall folk, who had seen Mellor knocked down, met the boys and told them.