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. 
how long had the boy been missing ?
who made threats
was he alone?
who was with him?
what did Mrs Byram feel
what is her son's name?
where had he gone?
did she wait around longer?
what did she do next?
was her husband still alive?
who was in time to hear her say something?
did she think he would know she'd worry?
who asked a question?
where had he dropped Fred off?
did he expect the lad to stay home?
how did he describe Miller?
did he think bad things would happen
who did he ask a question to ?
who walked in at that point?
was he in a friendly mood?
an hour
 he had been absent an hour
Skip Miller
threats made by Skip Miller
no
Skip Miller and his friends
his friends
Skip Miller and his friends
fear
and the fear of foul play 
Fred
 Fred would not have staid at the store longer
the store
not have staid at the store 
yes
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: 
she was on her way to search for him.
 before she was on her way to search for him. 
unknown
unknown
Donovan
when Donovan entered in time to hear the widow say: 
yes
for he must know I would be troubled concerning him." 
the breaker boss asked.
Didn't your boy stay in the house after I left him at the gate, Mrs. Byram?" the breaker boss asked. 
at the gate
Didn't your boy stay in the house after I left him at the gate, Mrs. Byram
yes
This is just the time when he oughter kept his nose inside. Them young ruffians are likely to do any mischief." 
he's at the bottom of everything that goes wrong
he's at the bottom of everything that goes wrong
yes
Then you believe something serious has happened." 

some of the loungers
Then turning to some of the loungers
Skip's father
Skip's father, who entered at this moment,
no
said in a surly tone. 