lead started for the Gramps' home, which, as will be
remembered, was plainly visible from the church.

"I believe," said Bonds, "that Brother Gramps' barn is on fire." At this
the whole group began to rush toward the beautiful red barn that stood a
quarter of a mile away. By the time they reached the spot, black clouds
of smoke and angry flames were shooting from doors and cracks in the
barn. Mrs. Gramps and the three children who were still at home were in
the barnyard wringing their hands and crying in a heart-rending manner.
It was plainly to be seen that the visitors could do nothing to save the
barn, and all that remained to do was to stand and watch the flames
devour the building.

"Where is Brother Gramps?" said Preacher Bonds to Mrs. Gramps.

"Wasn't he at church? No? Well, I don't know where he can be. He left
the house just at church-time and I hadn't noticed but what he was in
the crowd that came from the church," she replied.

Preacher Bonds looked serious as he said, "He could not have been in the
barn, I suppose."

"Oh, certainly not. I suppose he must be at some of the neighbors',
perhaps Deacon Brown's--was Deacon Brown at church?" "No, Deacon Brown
was not at church," replied Bonds. "Possibly he remained at home and
Brother Gramps went to see him on some business pertaining to the
church. But I don't understand why they did not meet at the church to
transact their business. Brother Jones, will you run over to Deacon
Brown's and tell Brother Gramps about his awful accident?"

"Certainly," responded Jones, who stood near the barnyard gate talking
with Gramps' hired hand, from whom he was endeavoring to learn the
details as to how the fire started.

"Try to tell him," remarked Bonds, "in a way that will not be too much
of a shock to him."

Jones mounted a horse and hurried off to Deacon Brown's and was soon
back with the news that Gramps had not been seen at Brown's, and that
Brown was sick in bed, which fact accounted for his being absent from
the service that morning.

When it was learned that Gramps was not at Deacon Brown's, considerable
anxiety began to be manifested on the part of neighbors. Some suggested
that it was possible that Gramps could have been in the barn when it
burned. Of course, care was exercised that such remarks should not reach
the ears of Mrs. Gramps. Messages were sent to all the neighbors in
search of Gramps. Someone had the idea that possibly he had gone to
Dobbinsvi