oon
as she could.

Then, fortunately, Mrs. Ford went upstairs to lie down until dinner was
ready, and Grace, with a sigh of relief, threw herself on a couch.

"There!" she sighed. "We can act naturally now. Poor little mother--I
wonder how she will take it?"

"Oh, she is brave," said Amy. "Besides, nothing very dreadful can have
happened. Will may be all right. Even if he has gone off with a labor
contractor, who has a bad reputation, your brother is able to look after
himself. He can appeal to the police, if necessary."

"Perhaps. Anyhow, you can look on the bright side, Amy. I wish papa
would hurry."

"Oh, he will, as soon as Betty tells him."

Meanwhile Betty and Mollie were hurrying on through the storm to Mr.
Ford's office. They found him working over a complicated law case, and
he seemed startled when he saw the two girls.

"Where is Grace--what has happened?" he asked, quickly.

"This telegram--it came for you to the house--Grace opened it,"
explained Mollie, briefly.

Mr. Ford seemed to comprehend it at a glance.

"I was afraid of this!" he exclaimed. "Some of those rascally labor
contractors will do anything to get help. I will have to go down there,
I think. Does Mrs. Ford know?"

"No, I told Grace to keep it from her until you came home."

"That was right. I must make light of this. Then I'll leave for
Jacksonville at once. Thank you very much, Betty."

He closed his desk and went out with the girls, calling a carriage for
them and himself, as the snow was now falling heavily.

In some way Mr. Ford managed to impart some of the details of the new
emergency to his wife without unduly arousing her. He also spoke of the
necessity of going to Florida.

"Oh, do you really have to go?" his wife asked, in alarm.

"I think it will be better. Will may do something rash, thinking he is
putting through a fine business deal. I don't want him to get
into--legal difficulties. It would not look well for my professional
reputation," and Mr. Ford forced a laugh to reassure his wife.

Arrangements for going to Jacksonville were soon made, as he was to
leave on the midnight train. In the meanwhile he communicated with the
telegraph authorities in the South, telling them of his plans, and
asking for any additional information.

All that he could learn was that Will had gone to the address given in
his first letter--a private boarding house. He had been there a few
days, making friends with the landlady, an