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Another effort at finding her was immediately made。 The police
sergeant was notified； and he sent out a general alarm。
All night long； and all the next day the hunt was continued。 Wells were
explored； basements； cellars and out…of…the…way places were ransacked；
lumber yards and coal yards were gone through most carefully。 In fact； not
a foot of the town was left unsearched； but all to no avail； and the once
happy home of the Franklins was steeped in sorrow and despair。
The morning after Lillian's disappearance； Mrs。 Foley inquired of the
boys in the neighborhood if they had seen anything of her son Tom； who；
she declared； had been gone since the previous morning。
From Sandy she learned that Tom had taken dinner at Gilbert's the day
before； but that when the party had started for the river he had dropped out；
claiming he was too down…hearted to join in the pleasure。
‘‘That's the way he acted at home；'' said the widow； ‘‘and it seemed to
me it was almost unnacheral for him to talk against his father； as he did。
However； I'm not bothered about him； for he comes and goes just as he
pleases； and when he gets good and ready he'll turn up； like a bad penny。
I've stopped worryin' about him years an' years ago。''
‘‘If I see Tom；'' volunteered the boy； ‘‘I'll tell him yer want him；''and
he hurried away。
The next morning Sandy left home earlier than usual； and on his own
account began a search for Lillian。 A new theory had taken possession of
him； and he started at once for the river。 At the magazine gate he chatted
with the sentry about the mysterious disappearance； and passed on。 When
he reached the shore half a mile beyond； he was surprised to find that the
padlock on the door of the shed had been pried off； and that his boat was
missing。
Opening the door he saw that his oars and blankets were gone； and he
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began to feel that his theory might lead him to important discoveries。 For
fully five minutes he stood motionless； and gazed into the river； buried
deep in his own thoughts。 Then he soliloquized： ‘‘I wonder if Lily's been
stolen？ S'pose； while we've been searchin' fer her high an' low； Foley an'
the galoot what whacked me jest took the little girl an' carried her off in
my boat？ That 'ere story 'bout Dennis Foley buyin' a ticket for Philadelphy
struck me as fishy when I fust heerd it； an' now I don't believe it a t'all。
They couldn't git through the magazine gate 'thout the guards seein' them；
an' whoever took my boat either came up the shore or down the shore。
'Tain't likely they came from up shore； 'cause they could 'a' found a
hundred boats 'tween here an' the upper bridge。''
Turning around； Sandy started down the beach toward the cemetery。
He was studying carefully the ground beyond the point of high tide； and in
a few moments reached the ravine where； two nights before； the three
abductors had stopped； upon hearing Colonel Franklin and his sailing
party approach。
‘‘Well； I'll be durned；'' he exclaimed； for in the sand before his very
eyes was the impress of four pairs of shoes。 Two were evidently those of
men； one small enough to be that of a boy； and one so tiny as to convince
him it was that of a child。
‘‘This is the way they come；'' he con… tinued； ‘‘and there wuz three of
'em in the gang besides the little one； an' I'm sure er that。''
He followed the footprints until he reached the old wharf。 Peering
through the rotten timbers； he said：
‘‘That's a rum ol' hole。 I don't believe Satan hisself would go in there；
but I'm goin'； an' see what I kin see。''
Sandy had no difficulty in entering the cave； which he found strewn
with whisky bottles； pieces of bread and newly…picked bones； evidence
enough that some one had been there but a short time before。 Penetrating
deeper in his search； he made a find of the utmost importance。 Lying at
one side； and near a bed of rags； was an envelop addressed to Dennis
Foley； and； on a peg which had been driven into the wall； was hanging an
old hat； which he had often seen on Hildey's head。
Elated at the results of his quest； he began to retrace his steps； and in
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eager haste he left the cave。 Picking his way along the slimy stones under
the wharf； he soon neared the outlet and there was startled by the most
significant of all his discoveries。 Right before him lay the identical hoop
which he had given the lost child only Christmas Day； and which bore the
inscription； ‘‘From Sandy Coggles to Lillian Franklin。''
Every suspicion now was confirmed； and he was sure he knew the
culprits。 Taking the hoop； he returned to his boat… house with all possible
speed； and leaping into his skiff； paddled up the river； his eyes scanning
the marsh lines on either bank of the channel。 Arriving at the bridge； he
learned by inquiry from the tender stationed there that he had not seen the
Lillian coming up stream within the past three days。
‘‘But；'' explained the bridge…tender； ‘‘I'm only on from six to six
during daylight； and of course if anything comes through at night I
wouldn't know about it。 I'm pretty sure； though； there's been nothing up
this way for a month of Sundays； 'cept Buck Wesley； who creeped up 'bout
two hours ago； following a gang of ducks that uses right over there above
Mayhew's Meadows。 And the way Buck's been shooting for the last hour；
he must be having a time and no mistake。''
‘‘Well； so long；'' called Sandy。 ‘‘I guess I'll go up the river a little
further and have a look。'' And once more he took up his paddles。 As he
came abreast of the Meadows he saw Buck Wesley coming out of the
creek in his gunning skiff。
‘‘Is that you； Sandy？'' shouted the gunner。
‘‘That's me；'' was the boy's answer。
‘‘Come over here； I want to talk to you；'' requested Buck。
When Sandy got alongside the hunter's boat； he asked：
‘‘Well； Buck； what's the trouble？''
‘‘No trouble； Sandy； but when I come up the river this mornin'I ain't
been up for three weeks； it's been such pore weather for ducksI seen a
bunch of widgeon go down right over here； an' as I skims up by the collard
patch t'other side of the bridge； I noticed a boat lyin' in the mud； and when
I gits near to her； I knows by the cut of her jib that she's yer Lillian。''
‘‘My Lillian？ Wher'd yer say yer seen her？'' asked Sandy excitedly。
‘‘Why； by the collard patch； not fifty yards from the Causeway。 She
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looked like she'd drifted on the marsh。 I calc'lated when I got through
shootin' that I'd pick her up an' take her down to yer landin'。 The oars wuz
in； an' I guess she must 'a' strayed from the shore； through somebody
fergettin' to tie her up。''
‘‘I'm much 'bliged； Buck；'' thanked Sandy； ‘‘but yer needn't bother。 I'll
bring her down； an' the next galoot that takes her an' lets her git away from
him； is goin' to hear from me。''
Sandy retraced the course he had come； and after turning on the other
side of the bridg