“He’s all to the good, isn’t he?” said Bob.
“You bet he is!” agreed Joe emphatically.
“He’s—Hello! what’s the matter?”
A sudden commotion was evident up the street. People were running excitedly and shouting in consternation.
The boys broke into a run in the direction followed by the crowd.
“What’s happened?” Bob asked, as he came abreast of a panting runner.
“There’s been an explosion up at Layton’s drug store,” the man replied. “They say an ammonia tank burst and everybody up there was killed.”
Bob’s face grew ashen.
“My father!” he cried, and ran toward the store in an agony of grief and fear.