ew words of explanation he
resumed his trot, and soon after turned into the lane leading to the
home of Mr. Kilgore. He found that both Bobby and Sallie had been to
school, but they had nothing to tell. When we are more than usually
anxious to learn something, it seems that every one whom we meet is
stupid beyond endurance. If we are in a strange place and apply for
information, the ignorance of nearly every person is exasperating.

Bobby and Sallie remembered seeing Nellie in school during the forenoon
and afternoon, but, while the boy insisted that she came along the road
with them after dismissal, Sallie was just as positive that the missing
girl was not with them.

The party of school children which usually went over the highway was so
small in number that it is hard to understand how such a mistake could
be made, but the difference between Bobby and Sallie was irreconcilable.

"I _know_ she didn't come home with us," said Sallie, stamping her foot
to give emphasis to the words.

"And I _know_ she did," declared Bobby, equally emphatically, "for me
and her played tag."

"Why don't you say she and I played tag?" asked Nick, impatient with
both the children.

"'Cause it was me and her," insisted Bobby.

"What a dunce-head!" exclaimed his sister; "that was _last_ night when
you played tag, and you tumbled over into the ditch and bellered like
the big baby you are."

"I remember that he did that last night," said Nick, hoping to help the
two to settle the dispute.

"I know I done that last night, but this afternoon I done it too. I fall
into the ditch every night and beller; I do it on purpose to fool them
that are chasing me."

Nick found he could gain nothing; but he believed the sister was right
and the brother wrong, as afterward proved to be the case.

There were no more houses between his own home and the school building,
and Nick resumed his dog trot, never halting until he came in front of a
little whitewashed cottage just beyond the stone school-house.

The latter stood at the cross roads, and the cottage to the left was
where the teacher, Mr. Layton, an old bachelor, lived with his two
maiden sisters.

Mr. Layton, although strict to severity in the school-room, was a
kind-hearted man and was fond of the Ribsam children, for they were
bright, cheerful, and obedient, and never gave him any trouble, as did
some of his other pupils. He listened to Nick's story, and his sympathy
was aroused at once