J. COLE. 63

the plate, etc., we missed many more things;
and Mrs. Wilson, whose faith in Joe’s hon-
esty never wavered, began to think the poor
boy might have been frightened at having
slept through the robbery; and as he was so
proud of having the plate used every day in
his charge, when he discovered it had been
stolen, he might have feared we should blame
him so much for it, that he had run away
home to his people in his fright, meaning
to ask his father, or his adored Dick, to
return to me and plead for him. I thought,
too, this was possible, for I knew how terri-
bly he would reproach himself for letting
anything in his care be stolen. I therefore
made up my mind to telegraph to his father
at once; but, not to alarm him, I said: —

“Ts Joe with you? Have reason to think
he has gone home. Answer back.”

The answer came some hours after, for in
those small villages communication was diffi-
cult. The reply ran thus: —

“We have not seen Joe; if he comes to-
night will write at once. Hoping there is

nothing wrong.”