CHAPTER III 

IN THE SHAFT 

Mrs. Byram had no suspicion that her son might be exposed to any danger until after he had been absent an hour, and then the remembrance of the threats made by Skip Miller and his friends caused her the deepest anxiety. Fred would not have staid at the store longer than was absolutely necessary, and the fear of foul play had hardly gained possession of her mind before she was on her way to search for him. 

The company's clerk had but just finished explaining that the new breaker boy left there with his purchases some time previous, when Donovan entered in time to hear the widow say: 

"I do not understand why he should remain away so long, for he must know I would be troubled concerning him." 

"Didn't your boy stay in the house after I left him at the gate, Mrs. Byram?" the breaker boss asked. 

Mrs. Byram explained why Fred ventured out, and the man appeared to be disturbed in mind. 

"This is just the time when he oughter kept his nose inside. Them young ruffians are likely to do any mischief." 

"Then you believe something serious has happened." 

"I didn't say quite that; but it won't do much harm to have a look for him. You go home, an' I'll call there in an hour." Then turning to some of the loungers, he asked, "Has anybody seen Skip Miller lately?" 

"You're allers tryin' to make out that he's at the bottom of everything that goes wrong," Skip's father, who entered at this moment, said in a surly tone. 

Answer the following questions:
1. how long had the boy been missing ?
2. who made threats
3. was he alone?
4. who was with him?
5. what did Mrs Byram feel
6. what is her son's name?
7. where had he gone?
8. did she wait around longer?
9. what did she do next?
10. was her husband still alive?
11. who was in time to hear her say something?
12. did she think he would know she'd worry?
13. who asked a question?
14. where had he dropped Fred off?
15. did he expect the lad to stay home?
16. how did he describe Miller?
17. did he think bad things would happen
18. who did he ask a question to ?
19. who walked in at that point?
20. was he in a friendly mood?

Numbered answers:
1. an hour
2. Skip Miller
3. no
4. his friends
5. fear
6. Fred
7. the store
8. yes
9. she was on her way to search for him.
10. unknown
11. Donovan
12. yes
13. the breaker boss asked.
14. at the gate
15. yes
16. he's at the bottom of everything that goes wrong
17. yes
18. some of the loungers
19. Skip's father
20. no