industry into the garish light of
undesirable publicity. In the sheds and the quarries the routine work
went on as usual, but speculation was rife as to the outcome of the
search for the missing treasurer. A considerable amount of money was put
up by the sporting element among the workmen, that the capture would
take place within three weeks. Meanwhile, the daily papers furnished
pabulum for the general curiosity and kept the interest as to the
outcome on the increase. Some reports had it that Champney Googe was
already in Europe; others that he had been seen in one of the Central
American capitals. Among those who knew him best, it was feared he was
already in hiding in his native State; but beyond their immediate circle
no suspicion of this got abroad.

Among the native Flamstedites, who had known and loved Champney from a
child, there was at first a feeling of consternation mingled with shame
of the disgrace to his native town. They felt that Champney had played
false to his two names, and through the honored names of Googe and
Champney he had brought disgrace upon all connections, whether by ties
of blood or marriage. To him they had looked to be a leader in the new
Flamsted that was taking its place in the world's work. For a few days
it seemed as if the keystone of the arch of their ambition and pride
had fallen and general ruin threatened. Then, after the first week
passed without news as to his whereabouts, there was bewilderment,
followed on the second Monday by despair deepened by a suspense that was
becoming almost unbearable.

It was a matter of surprise to many to find the work in sheds and
quarries proceeding with its accustomed regularity; to find that to the
new comers in Flamsted the affair was an impersonal one, that Champney
Googe held no place among the workmen; that his absconding meant to them
simply another one of the "high rollers" fleeing from his deserts.
Little by little, during that first week, the truth found its way home
to each man and woman personally interested in this erring son of
Flamsted's old families, that a man is but one working unit among
millions, and that unit counts in a community only when its work is
constructive in the communal good.

At a meeting of the bank directors the telling fact was disclosed that
all of Mrs. Googe's funds--the purchase money of the quarry lands--had
been withdrawn nine months previous; but this, they ascertained later,
had been done with her ful