"No. Why?" Ned answered.
"Well, I'm at his shop, and he isn't here. His father says he received a message from you a little while ago, saying to come over in a hurry, and he went. Says you told him to meet you out at that farmer Kanker's place. I thought maybe—"
"At Kanker's place!" cried Ned. "Say, something's wrong, Mr. Damon! Isn't Tom there?"
"No; I'm at his home, and he's been gone for some time. His father supposed he was with you. I thought I would telephone to make sure."
"Whew!" whistled Ned. "There's something doing here, all right, and something wrong! I'll be right over!" he added, as he hung up the receiver.
Chapter XX
The Search
"Haven't you seen anything of him?" asked Mr. Damon, as Ned jumped out of his small runabout at the Swift home as soon as possible after receiving the telephone message that seemed to presage something wrong.
"Seen him? No, certainly not!" answered the young bank clerk. "I'm as much surprised as you are over it. What happened, anyhow?"