Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) NED WILDING'S DISAPPEARANCE Or The Darewell Chums in the City BY ALLEN CHAPMAN AUTHOR OF "BART STIRLING'S ROAD TO SUCCESS," "WORKING HARD TO WIN," "BOUND TO SUCCEED," "THE YOUNG STOREKEEPER," "NAT BORDEN'S FIND," ETC. [Illustration: _The_ GOLDSMITH _Publishing Co._ CLEVELAND OHIO MADE IN U.S.A.] COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE NEW GUN 1 II. PREPARING FOR A HUNT 8 III. OFF IN THE WOODS 15 IV. THE FIRST TURKEY 19 V. THE BLIZZARD 23 VI. A LONELY CABIN 30 VII. HOME FOR THANKSGIVING 38 VIII. GETTING SQUARE WITH SANDY 45 IX. SANTA CLAUS IN SCHOOL 52 X. WRECK OF THE TOWER 61 XI. NED GETS A LETTER 69 XII. NED STARTS OFF 77 XIII. STARTLING NEWS 85 XIV. NED'S BUSINESS VENTURE 94 XV. IN TROUBLE 103 XVI. ADRIFT IN NEW YORK 111 XVII. THE CHUMS ARRIVE 120 XVIII. HUNTING FOR NED 125 XIX. DOWN THE ROPE 132 XX. IN THE LODGING HOUSE 143 XXI. NED FLEES AGAIN 149 XXII. OUT IN THE STORM 159 XXIII. NED'S PREDICAMENT 168 XXIV. A QUEER IDENTIFICATION 175 XXV. NED SHOVELS SNOW 187 XXVI. CASSIDY CATCHES NED 197 XXVII. BAFFLED AGAIN 216 XXVIII. NED A PRISONER 222 XXIX. NED IS FOUND--CONCLUSION 229 NED WILDING'S DISAPPEARANCE CHAPTER I THE NEW GUN The Keene household was suddenly aroused from peacefulness, one quiet afternoon, by a loud thud as if something had fallen. It was followed by a report like an explosion. Then, from Bart's room, sounded a series of yells. "Wow! Ouch! Jimminities!" "He's hurt!" exclaimed his sister Alice, as she ran toward her brother's room. As she entered she saw him running about the apartment, which was filled with smoke, holding one hand in the other. Drops of blood were coming from his fingers. "What's the matter? Are you hurt?" asked Alice. "Oh, Bart, are you really hurt?" "Am I hurt? Do you think I'm doing this for fun? Where's mother?" "She's gone out. I'm the only one home." "Get a rag or something, will you please Alice?" and Bart danced around on one leg, holding the other limb out so stiffly that he knocked over several chairs. "Is your leg hurt too, Bart?" "No, it's only my three fingers."