CHAPTER IV.
THE SEARCH BY HUGH AND TOM.
Never did one person do another a greater injustice than did Harvey Bradley when he believed that either Hugh O'Hara or any one else had aught to do with the absence of his little sister Dollie.

No men had a hand in the sad business, nor could any one have been led to harm a hair of her head.

Had Harvey asked for help, no one in the village would have held back from doing all that could be done to restore the child to her friends.
The first news that came to Hugh O'Hara's cabin of the loss of the child was brought by Jack Hansell, who went thither on a far different errand.

After a long talk on business, he gave the tidings, adding: "I met him at the creek, but thought I wouldn't tell him, for it would do no good.

I kept my eyes open for the gal, but seen nothing of her." Hugh jerked the pipe from his mouth.
"What's that you are saying?
The little girl lost ?" "That's it; she's been missing since noon; they think she come up the path and got lost in the mountains." "Good gracious!" gasped Hugh, starting to his feet, "that is bad; do you know," he added, turning to Tom and speaking with a slight tremor, "that that little girl Dollie is about the age my Jennie was when she died ?" "I hadn't thought of that," replied Tom.
"And," continued Hugh, swallowing a lump in his throat, "she looks so much like Jennie that I've often felt as if I would give all I have--which ain't much--to hold the little one on my knee as I used to hold my baby.