r he passed Mr. William Hazeltine's
house. He noticed that only a dim light burned in the hall, and
recalled the fact that they were out of town, but happening to glance
in the direction of the library he was surprised to see it brilliantly
illuminated. Hesitating for a moment, he turned and went up the steps.
"I'll take occasion to ask Bruce if he knows anything about one of the
children getting lost," he said to himself.

After some minutes the door was opened by the sleepy-looking man, who
was not disposed to be quite amiable. In reply to Mr. Caruth's
question he said he knew nothing about it.

"Well, see here, Bruce, what does that light in the library mean? Mr.
and Mrs. Hazeltine are both away, aren't they?"

The man looked at him in surprise, and said there wasn't any light in
the library.

"Just come out here, then, and tell me what you call this," and Mr.
Caruth led the way to the corner of the house.

"I haven't been near the library since morning, sir," the astonished
man exclaimed.

"How about the other servants?"

"They are all away but the cook, and she went to bed an hour ago.
There was a man here attending to some locks, but he left about noon."

"It can't be burglars, for they wouldn't leave the blinds open. We
must look into this," said Mr. Caruth, as they entered the house.

The dog had followed Bruce to the door, and under his protection they
entered the library.

A more unexpected sight could hardly have met their gaze--Louise fast
asleep on the floor, with the bear-skin partly covering her!

Dan's cold nose aroused her, and she started up with wide-open,
bewildered eyes.

"Don't be frightened, it is only Dan," said Mr. Caruth, lifting her
into a chair. "Get wide awake and then tell us why you are spending
the night here. I am afraid from what I hear that they are worried
about you at home."

"I'm awake now and I must go. You will take me, won't you?" said
Louise, rising and pushing back her hair, and looking about for her
hat. "I did not mean to stay here," she added, "but I couldn't get
out--there isn't any knob on the door."

Bruce, who had been standing open-mouthed, turned at this to examine
the door, and sure enough there was a knob on the outside, but not on
the inside. He could not explain why it had been left so; he only knew
that the man who came to make some change in the door-knobs had said
that something was wrong and he could not finish the work till the
next day.