t out of the garage
Hugh bade Horatio "hop aboard," which that worthy did without a
second invitation.
"Better get Thad first of all, I reckon," suggested Hugh, as though
he might even have figured out how best to save themselves from any
unnecessary delay; "then we can clip around to Julius Hobson's place,
and pick up Owen last on our way out of town."
The program suited Horatio first class. Indeed, he had such perfect
confidence in Hugh that anything the other said carried conviction
along with it. It is a fine thing for any boy to have aroused such
a spirit of trust in the minds of his comrades that they look up to
him as a sort of natural leader, and obey his slightest wish without
hesitation. But Hugh bore his honors with humility, and never
attempted to display the attributes of a czar.
Great was the astonishment of Thad Stevens when he found two excited
fellows demanding that he bundle up and go with them for a night ride
up to the abandoned quarry that had gained such a bad reputation among
the country folks residing roundabout.
The story was partly told in rapid-fire style, enough of it, at least,
to cause Thad to bounce into his heavy coat, and provide himself with
a lantern. He expected to become better informed from time to time
as they pushed along the road.
Next came Julius Hobson. They found him at home also, and, of course,
he was duly worked up on hearing how poor K.K. had never returned home
from his run over the long course of fifteen miles. When he heard
that they needed lanterns Julius produced a new electric flashlight
which had received for a birthday present, and Hugh said it would do
very well as an additional means of illumination.
Last of all they stopped at the home of Owen Dugdale, the dark-faced
lad who lived with his grandfather in a big house, and about whom
there had at one time been quite a little halo of mystery hanging.
Again was the main fact mentioned concerning the necessity for a
searching party starting forth to find poor K.K. Owen did not have
to be urged to join the bunch; indeed, he showed himself eager to
accompany them.
"I can fetch a lantern, if you want me to, Hugh," he observed; "and
say, do you know I'm of a mind to carry my new shotgun that I had
given to me just last month, when Grandfather concluded I was old
enough to want to go hunting. If we have to chase all around through
that place there's so many queer stories told about we might as wel
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