mes Gwen showed a temper that was rather far from angelic.

Max was not at lunch, but that caused no surprise, because he often
was absent at one o'clock, returning at six for dinner with an
appetite that seemed more befitting a brawny tramp than a boy who was
always well fed.

On this day, however, he did not appear at dinner, and when seven, and
eight, chimed forth from the hall clock, and still no Max in sight,
Mrs. Deland was frightened.

"Do keep up your courage, Mrs. Deland," said a man who happened to
stand near her.

"Your small boy will come prancing in before long, just as he always
does. He usually remains out until you are nearly wild, and then he
comes crawling in by the back door, and wonders why the chef isn't on
hand to cook a separate dinner for him."

It was the truth, but Mrs. Deland thought the speaker exceedingly
hard-hearted. She had telephoned to everyone whom she thought might
have seen Max, but all replied that he had not been noticed, and that
proved that he had not been near them, for the boy was so saucy, so
noisy, and so desperately active, that he must have been noticed if he
was anywhere within sight.

"Nine!" chimed the clock, and a few of the guests of the house
organized a searching party, and started out to hunt for Max.

They felt little interest in the matter, from the fact that the same
thing had happened so many times that they seemed always to be
searching for Max.

The boy had made himself a nuisance in countless ways, and while
neither member wished any harm to come to Max, they felt that it
would be a great relief if he and his mother would leave Cliffmore,
and never think of returning.

Once outside the house, however, they made thorough work of their
search, but although they looked in every place that a small boy might
get into, and in many that seemed impossible, they did not find him.

One man, tired and disgusted, grumbled as he tramped along, and
several others who did not utter the thoughts that filled their minds,
felt every bit as disgusted as he did.

"It's nonsense, clear nonsense, tramping all over the place, hunting
for a little run-away rascal, who, at this moment, is doubtless eating
a comfortable meal, after having returned when he felt like it."

When they reached the house, they were surprised to find that Max was
not there.

It was the first time that a party searching for the boy had returned
to learn that he was still missing.

Mrs. Dela