A District Messenger Boy and a Necktie Party | Page 4

than he does of any other? We're all right for
awhile anyhow; but I guess we'll be pretty hungry, 'cause we can't get
anything to eat."
" I don't care 'bout that, if he don't get hold of me again," said Ned,
growing bright and happy as he realized his temporary safety.
The boys examined the tickets Joe had, looked curiously at the snug
little cabin, wondered what the man would say or do when he could not
find Ned, and, finally, the first novelty of the situation having passed
away, they talked of their homes.

It was the most unwise thing they could have done, so far as peace of
mind was concerned, for at the thoughts of their mothers waiting and
watching for them, both broke down. Ned lay down in the berth
without a thought of hiding his grief; but Joe, who considered it his
duty, in his position of protector to the younger boy, to appear
unconcerned, was obliged to stand by the window in order to cry
without being seen or heard, and he wiped his eyes with the curtain
until his cheeks were stained blue and green from the dye of the fabric,
in a sorrowfully ridiculous fashion.
However it happened, neither of the boys quite understood, but, despite
their deep sorrow, they both fell asleep, shortly after Joe lay down by
the side of Ned to comfort him, and did not awaken until morning. The
sun was streaming in through the slats of the blinds, the throbbing of
the engine was stilled, and everything betokened the end of the voyage.
Neither of the boys had undressed, for they had anticipated a long,
dreary evening during which they would be very hungry, and Joe had
fully intended to walk around the boat for the purpose r of learning
what Ned's enemy was doing. They had not laid any plans, arid in this
Joe felt that they had been culpable, since, now that they were at liberty
to go on shore, neither had an idea of what course to pursue.
"While you are washing your face I will go out and see if that man is
around anywhere," said Joe, finally, "an' I'll lock the door and take the
key with me so's there won't be any chance of his gettin' in while I'm
gone."
Ned did not much like being left alone, but he made no objections,
since he could readily see that it was of the highest importance that
they should learn if the man and his companion were watching for
them.
Joe went into every portion of the boat in which passengers are allowed;
but without seeing either Ned's captor or his companion. Had he been
on deck when the steamer arrived at Newport, he would have seen the
two men land there, after searching vainly for the boy they had stolen,
much as if they feared they might be called to an account for what they
had done. Of this, of course, Joe knew nothing; and when he failed to
see either of the men, he naturally feared they were waiting on shore in
the hope of catching Ned as he landed.
It was but seven o'clock, and as a number of the passengers were yet on

board, the stewards had paid no attention to the stateroom the boys
occupied; otherwise an explanation might have been made which
would have prevented both the young passengers' much trouble.
"It's morning, Ned, an' I s'pose we're in Providence," said Joe, as he
came back to the stateroom where the child was waiting, in fear and
trembling, the result of his trip on deck. "I can't see anything of the men,
an' perhaps if we go on shore now they won't catch us. We've got to
'take these valises, for the man told me to watch 'em, an' that means that
I've got to keep right side of 'em."
Ned manfully took hold of one side of the heaviest piece of baggage,
and with anxious hearts the two left the room. At the gangway the
children were stopped by the man whose duty it was to collect the
tickets. He looked at the small boys with the large valises, curiously;
but as Joe gave him the two pieces of pasteboard that entitled them to
first cabin passages, the officer could do no less than allow them to
land.
Even though they were supposed to be in Providence, they were some
distance from the city, as they learned when they were off the pier, and
Joe said:
"Now, Ned, I'm sorry to make you do it, but we've got to walk fast if
we don't want those men to catch us," and that was sufficient to induce
the boy to do his best.
But no matter how