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? ? ? ? "Good morning, Mrs. Thatcher. Good morning, Mrs. Harper. I've got a boy that's turned up missing. I reckon my Tom staid at your house last night- one of you. And now he's afraid to come to church. I've got to settle with him."

? ? ? ? Mrs. Thatcher shook her head feebly and turned paler than ever.

? ? ? ? "He didn't stay with us," said Mrs. Harper, beginning to look uneasy. A marked anxiety came into Aunt Polly's face.

? ? ? ? "Joe Harper, have you seen my Tom this morning?"

? ? ? ? "No'm."

? ? ? ? "When did you see him last?"

? ? ? ? Joe tried to remember, but was not sure he could say. The people had stopped moving out of church. Whispers passed along, and a boding uneasiness took possession of every countenance. Children were anxiously questioned, and young teachers. They all said they had not noticed whether Tom and Becky were on board the ferry boat on the homeward trip; it was dark; no one thought of inquiring if any one was missing.


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