“By this time to-morrow we’ll probably have Willie with us again.” Dave spoke in consoling tones.
“We certainly can’t do another thing to find that chap to-night,” said Sam. “Let’s make the best of it. Bet he’s just hiding somewhere.”
“It’s a fine night for taking observations of the stars,” remarked Dave. “Suppose we carry the telescope up on the roof?”
“Good scheme,” approved Bob.
Thereupon they ascended to the second floor, in a few moments reaching a storeroom, where a ladder rested against a trap-door. The stout boy was active enough when it came to doing anything he particularly cared about, so it took him but a short time to get the telescope and stand in position on the roof.
In pointing the tube from one star to another, or over the almost limitless expanse of nature, and picking out from the obscurity groups of longhorns or clumps of trees, the boys were able to partly ease their minds.
For about an hour they kept it up, then, one by one, descended to their rooms, where before long all were sound asleep.
Tom Clifton finally awoke with a start.
The sound of a bell, ringing crisp and sharp, came to his ears. Tom hastily threw aside his blankets and rose to a sitting position.
“Goodness gracious!” he breathed excitedly. “It’s the ’phone down-stairs, sure enough!”