me just where you put it!"

"Why Bet, I put it right on your father's desk, back toward the wall,
so no one would knock it off.--You know Laura was being so careless
with it that I got worried and took it from her."

"Are you positive you put it there, Phil?"

"Yes, Bet, of course I am."

"Father sent me word to get it into the safety deposit at once. He's
had an offer for it. It's worth a lot of money, and he needs money
badly just now."

"Why Bet, have you any idea what could have happened to it? Would
anyone around here know about it and try to steal it when your father
is away?"

"I don't know. Dad seemed so anxious in his letter and instructed me
so carefully about putting it away, that I think he must have been
afraid of thieves. He said: 'Get it into the safety deposit box _at
once_. It's important! I trust you!' And now I can't find it. What
shall I do?"

"You say you thought you heard someone in your father's room after the
party that night. Is there anyone who would know about the fan and
come prowling around to get it?"

"I wish I knew that, Phil. Just now I can't imagine what has happened
to it."

"I know what I'm going to do, Bet. I'm going to go down to the police
office and talk to Chief Baldwin, tell him the whole story and ask his
advice. I'll do that at once. Enough time has been wasted."

Phil was away before Bet could stop him, even if she had tried. And
when Chief Baldwin heard only part of the story, he decided to hear the
rest on the spot and returned to the Manor with Phil.

Chief Baldwin went over the whole house with Bet and Phil. In the
attic he saw the footprints still on the floor, in the dust, and Uncle
Nat told him of following the same marks in the snow, to the main road.

"Why didn't you get me on the job, then, I'd like to know? Why did you
delay?"

"We all thought it was one of the village boys who was not invited, and
decided he'd try to break up the party."

"Still, with Colonel Baxter away, you should have let me know at once.
I sort of feel responsible and if anything happened to Bet when he was
away I'm sure he'd blame me."

In spite of her anxiety, Bet had to laugh. "You're as bad as Auntie
Gibbs. Her responsibility weighs heavily on her, and when Dad is out
of town, she almost sets me crazy."

"You see, Bet, we all think so highly of your father that we do not
take any chances in displeasing him. Now about this fan! Who was the
last pe