I reached Bend Center long before seven o’clock. I was not certain whether I would find Squire Slocum up, so I walked around to the back of the house to ask the hired girl when I could best see him.
“The squire went over to Bayport an hour ago,” she said.
“To Bayport?” I repeated. “It’s pretty early in the morning.”
“There’s some trouble at the bank there,” replied the girl. “A messenger came over and woke us all up. He wanted the squire right away, and he had to go off without waiting to get his breakfast.”
My curiosity was aroused at once.
“What was the trouble at the bank?” I asked.
“I don’t know.”
“And you don’t know when the squire will return?”
“No, sir.”