Philip breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’ve got a messenger at last,” he said. “Now my friends will know what has become of me when I don’t come home to supper.”
He was a little curious to learn what they were going to do with him, but he was not long kept in suspense.
CHAPTER X.
BAD TIDINGS.
Leaving Philip for a short time in the hands of his captor, we will follow Zeke on his errand. He didn’t have to go as far as Mr. Dunbar’s house, for he met Frank Dunbar about a quarter of a mile this side of it.
Now, between Frank Dunbar and Zeke Tucker there was no love lost. There had been a difficulty between them, originating at school, which need not be particularly referred to. Enough that it led to Zeke’s cordially disliking Frank, while the latter, who was a frank, straightforward boy, could not see anything in Mr. Tucker’s promising son to enlist either his respect or his liking.
There was a small river running through Norton, which crossed the main thoroughfare, and had to be bridged over. Frank Dunbar, fishing-line in hand, was leaning over the parapet, engaged in luring the fish from their river home. He looked up, when he saw Zeke approaching him. Not having any particular desire to hold a conversation with him, he withdrew his eyes, and again watched his line. Zeke, however, approached him with a grin of anticipated enjoyment, and hailed him in the usual style:
“Hello, Frank!”
“Oh, it’s you, is it?” said Frank Dunbar indifferently.
“Yes it’s me. I suppose you thought it was somebody else,” chuckled Zeke, though Frank could see no cause for merriment.