"Where's Marty?" demanded Nelson.
"Oh! she don't say nothin' about him," sobbed the woman. "His bed ain't been slep' in, an——"
"If Marty has disappeared, too," the schoolmaster said with decision, "you can be sure he is with her."
"Do ye believe so?" asked Mr. Day doubtfully. "Seems to me she wouldn't have encouraged the boy to go off that-a-way."
"Of course not," Nelson agreed. "But I have an idea that, of all of us, Marty was the wisest. You'll learn he suspected Janice of planning to go away and he has gone with her, or followed her."
"That boy!" ejaculated his mother.
"If he has——" began Uncle Jason; but Nelson continued:
"I have considerable confidence in Marty. At least, he is a courageous young rascal. I fancy he has followed Janice, unknown to her, and with the desire of helping her."
"But he is only a bo-o-oy," wailed his mother again.
"Say!" Uncle Jason said suddenly, "he's a good deal of a man, come to think on't. I b'lieve you air right, Mr. Haley."