t come in--I hear his whistle; perhaps she is
with him," said Aunt Zelie. But upon inquiry he had not seen her since
lunch.

"And you have looked everywhere? In the star chamber, and the library,
and--"

"Yes, and I have asked Sukey and James, and they have not seen her,"
Bess replied.

"It is a little strange, for she knows I do not like to have her out
late. She was going to John's, wasn't she?"

"I know she went there, for she walked as far as the gate with me.
Perhaps some of the boys are there and will bring her home," said
Bess.

"We will wait a quarter of an hour, and if she does not come I'll send
over to the Armstrongs'," said Mrs. Howard.

The minutes slipped away, but no Louise; and Joanna, who was sent in
search of her, returned with the news that she had left there about
four o'clock.

"Oh, dear! She must be lost!" Bess exclaimed.

"Louise get lost! Nonsense! She could find her way anywhere," said
Carl.

"I hardly think she can be lost, but I am worried about her. Joanna,
you'd better go to Mrs. Warner's, and, Carl, suppose you run over to
Miss Brown's, she may be there," and Aunt Zelie walked to the window
and looked out into the darkness. "It is beginning to snow," she said.

Neither Miss Brown nor the Warners had seen Louise, nor had she been
heard of at the Morrises', and they were trying to think what to do
next when Mr. Hazeltine came in.

"Father, she must be lost, don't you think so?" asked Bess, when
matters were explained to him.

"I don't know what to think," he answered. "Louise is not the kind of
a child to get lost easily."

"So I say," added Carl.

"Then somebody has stolen her like Charlie Ross, and I'll never see
her again."

"It is too soon to despair, dearie," said Aunt Zelie, as Bess looked
ready to cry.

"Suppose we have some dinner, and then if we hear nothing in the
meantime, I'll go to the Armstrongs' and try to find a clue to start
with," said Mr. Hazeltine.

It was not a cheerful meal, in spite of Aunt Zelie's effort to hide
her anxiety and talk of other things. It seemed as if Louise's bright
face must appear each minute; but dinner was over and no word of her.

The snow was falling fast when Carl and his father started out. Little
John could tell them nothing more than that Louise had been there for
an hour, and then said she must go, as there was something she wanted
to do. He watched her out of the gate and thought she went home.

"It is a great puzz