did you run away? Didn't we treat you all right?"

Dorothy made no reply. The nurse came over, and glanced at her keenly.

"You look pretty fine. Guess the tramp did you good. They have sent
for your mother. She will be here to-morrow. I sent the message, and I
told her your mind had cleared up. I hope I made no mistake."

"I hope not," replied Dorothy, feeling that it was useless to try to
explain. "I shall be glad--when she comes."

"I'm the night attendant. I will be here in an hour to give you your
bath," said the young woman.

"I am perfectly capable of taking my own bath," replied Dorothy, with
indignation.

"Perhaps; but we don't trust patients in the water alone. I hope you
won't give me any trouble. I'm tired to death to-night."

"I will try not to," said Dorothy.

Soon Miss Bell returned. Her face was flushed and she appeared greatly
excited.

"That _man_ Morrison has been seen," she said to the other nurse. "And
two more Mary Harriwells have also been seen. Strange thing how many
girls can get demented when _one_ is looked for. But the man--they say
he is not safe."

"Oh, he's the greatest case we ever had here. He kept us all busy as
his audience. He's stage-struck, you know," said the other.

"Have you heard anything of a girl named Tavia Travers?" asked Dorothy
timidly. "It was searching for her that brought about all this
trouble, and I wonder have they found her yet."

"Tavia Travers," repeated Miss Bell. "A girl who says she is Tavia
Travers was seen going along the road with the supposed Mary
Harriwell, and of course if she is helping her hide, she may be
arrested. Is she a friend of yours?"

"Yes," sighed Dorothy. Then she fell to thinking how terrible it all
was.

"It began the day we had the hay wagon accident," she decided. "The
moment that man crossed our path he--left his shadow, as dear father
would say. Well, to-morrow I must be set free again."

The nurses were talking quietly together. A shuffling in the hall
disturbed them.

"A new patient?" asked Dorothy.

"No, likely an old one returned," was all the information she got.

CHAPTER XXII

THE CLEW

"I cannot go another step," sighed the girl with Tavia, just as
Morrison passed.

"Hush!" cautioned Tavia. "I would rather die than have him see us! I
simply cannot stand the thoughts of it all, and on _his_ account."

They had succeeded in getting behind a huge tree at the side of the
path. The man sauntered