Meanwhile, Mr. Newton was waiting in vain for Larry’s return. He had quite a bunch of copy ready for the last edition, and, when he knew it was nearly time to go to press, he went to a telephone and asked what had become of the boy. “Why, he hasn’t been here since the third batch of stuff brought in,” replied Mr. Emberg. “We thought you might have him up there. What’s the trouble?” Then Mr. Newton told how he had started Larry for the office with an important part of the story. “He’s been hurt in an accident,” said Mr. Newton, “that’s what’s happened.” “Maybe be got tired of the work and left without notice,” suggested the city editor over the wire. “Larry’s not that kind,” spoke Mr. Newton firmly. “You’ll see that something has happened to him. But say, let someone take the rest of this story over the wire, and I’ll soon be in.” With grave wonder as to what had befallen Larry, Mr. Newton dictated the story of the strike and the bomb explosion. Then he took a car for the office, as the strikers had temporarily dispersed. On the way down he thought of all sorts of conjectures. The most reasonable supposition was that Larry had met with an accident--been hit by a car or cab--knocked unconscious and hurried off to some hospital. Reaching the office Mr. Newton inquired from the police whether any such accident had happened. He was told there was none. “That’s queer,” he muttered. If he had only known where Larry was he would have thought it more strange. “I must get out on this case myself. But first I’ll go to Larry’s home.” Mrs. Dexter, who was beginning to be a little worried over the non-appearance of her son, was more alarmed when Mr. Newton arrived. At first she thought the reporter had come to bring bad news, but she was soon told there had been no accident. “Maybe a bad man took him off,” said little James. “There’s lots of ’em in New York.” “Well, I guess it isn’t as bad as that,” said Mr. Newton. “We’ll find him, don’t worry. He’s probably lost his way, and maybe he doesn’t like to ask, thinking he should be able to find it himself.” But, in his own mind, Mr. Newton was satisfied that Larry was not so foolish. He began to be alarmed. This alarm grew when, the next morning, no word had been received from the missing boy. Mrs. Dexter was sure he had been killed, and she worried so that Mr. Newton, who paid a second visit to the humble home, was afraid lest she should make herself ill. “I’ll find Larry for you!” he said. “I’ve found lots of missing people, and I’ll get Larry!” But, though he spoke confidently, Mr. Newton did not know where to begin. He made a report of the missing lad to the police, and a general alarm was sent out. But there are so many of these in the course of the day, and so little attention is paid to a hunt for missing persons, in New York, that Mr. Newton had not much hope in this respect.