Even now the warning whistle should be sounding.
Peter stood still and listened.
But no discordant blast broke the stillness.
He quickened his steps.
Despite the cloudless blue of the heavens the wall of mist with its burden of rain was steadily creeping nearer.
There must be some mistake.
Tolman couldn’t have seen the storm coming.
Breaking into a run Peter dashed in at the factory gate and raced up two stairs at a time to the office.
Tolman was nowhere to be seen. The room was empty!
Aghast, the boy glanced about. Every second was precious. What should he do? He thought a moment of his father and what the loss would mean to the company. Then, without further hesitation, he touched the bell that gave to the engineer the signal for the blowing of the factory whistle.