CHAPTER XXXI SEARCHING FOR THE LOST When the Dexter household awoke the morning after the night on which Jimmy had disappeared, it seemed as if it was all a bad dream or nightmare. It did not seem possible that the little fellow was missing, and Larry, as he roused himself from his uneasy slumbers, and jumped out of bed, was half inclined to believe that it was all only a vision of the darkness. But the absence of Jimmy’s cheerful call, silence in his room, and the lack of the child’s merry laugh, soon emphasized the fact that he was missing. No one felt like eating breakfast, and Mrs. Dexter was so much affected that Larry feared she would become ill. “Now, mother,” he said to her, “you must not worry so. I’ll admit there’s lots of cause for it, but we’ll find Jimmy sooner or later. He can’t be hurt. He’s probably, as I said, been taken by that gang, but it’s to their interest to keep him safe. He has a claim on the property the same as you or I have, and if any—any harm came to him it would only mix things up for them. You can depend on it, they’ll take very good care of Jimmy.” “Do you think so?” asked Mrs. Dexter. “Sure,” replied Larry. “Besides we’ll have him back in a few days, no matter where he is. Mr. Newton and I will start on the search. The _Leader_ will help us, and all the police in the city will lend a hand, as they are friendly toward our paper.” “That’s right, mother,” chimed in Lucy. “Don’t worry, and I’m sure it will all come out right. I feel that Jimmy will come back safe to us.” “I’ll try,” said Mrs. Dexter, wiping the tears from her eyes, “but it’s a terrible thing to have a little boy kidnapped.” Larry made a light breakfast, and hurried to the office. Early as he was, he found Mr. Newton there before him. The older reporter showed the strain he was under, for he had slept but little. Pretty soon Mr. Emberg came in. Mr. Newton soon explained the situation to the editor, and asked for a leave of absence for Larry and himself to enable them to trace down the gang and locate Jimmy. “Of course you may go,” said the city editor. “Call on the _Leader_ for any help you want, financial or otherwise. If you can get at this gang and break it up, or if you can get at the bottom of this land deal and make a story out of it, so much the better. Have your own way, your time is your own. Come back to work, Larry, when you find your brother and clear up the mystery.” With this roving commission, Larry and Mr. Newton started away. “Well, Larry,” remarked the older reporter, “we seem to be sort of up against it.” “What are we going to do?” asked Larry, helplessly. “Mother is almost sick from worry, and if we don’t find Jimmy soon I don’t know what will happen.”