According to his tale, the figure was lying over against the other
occupant of the seat. He was also, positive that there were three
figures in the front seat! Who was the extra person? was the question
that flashed into the minds of the listeners. A small boy came to the
schoolhouse at nine o'clock in the morning with 'Rast Little's new derby
hat. He had picked it up at the roadside not far from the schoolhouse
and in the direction taken by the Farnsworth party.
Anderson gave orders that no word of the catastrophe be carried to
Rosalie, who was reported to be ill of a fever the next morning after
the spelling-bee. She had a cough, and the doctor had said that nothing
should be said or done to excite her.
The crowd at the schoolhouse grew larger as the morning passed Everybody
talked in whispers; everybody was mystified beyond belief. All eyes were
turned to Anderson Crow, who stood aloof, pondering as he had never
pondered before. In one hand he held Miss Banks's bloody handkerchief
and in the other a common school text-book on physiology. His badges
and stars fairly revelled in their own importance.
"Don't pester him with questions," warned Isaac Porter, addressing Alf
Reesling, the town drunkard, who had just arrived.
"But I got something I want to say to him," persisted Alf eagerly. Two
or three strong men restrained him.
Pages:
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114