rs. Dunbar promptly, and leading the way,
she, with the revolver, Cleo, Grace and Madaline with swords, and also
carrying an East Indian spear each, they made their way down the hall
to Madaline's room.

Cleo pushed open the door.

The bed was empty!

"She's gone!" exclaimed Cleo excitedly.

"And the screen is out of the window. Look!" cried Grace.

Beyond the bed the low latticed window was flung wide open, its screen
lay where it had fallen, and the pretty draperies were almost torn from
their hangings.

"Oh!" gasped Madaline. "Someone has stolen her!"

But Mrs. Dunbar thoughtfully shook her head.

CHAPTER XII

A STARTLING EXPERIENCE

Mary was gone and through the window! That was plain even to the
excited girls who, in the night, stood around Mrs. Dunbar, aghast with
wonder, and fearful for the safety of the little girl, so lately their
companion.

"No one could have dragged her through the window without disturbing
us," Mrs. Dunbar said. "One of you girls call Jennie, and I will phone
the garage for Michael."

All the fear that at first seemed to paralyze the girls was now
dispelled in their anxiety for the safety of Mary.

"Come on!" Grace replied promptly. "I'll run down to Jennie's room and
get her to help us!"

"And I'll go with you," declared Madaline without a tremor in her voice.

"I shall have to go to my room to phone, Cleo," said Mrs. Dunbar. "But
we haven't searched any yet. She may be somewhere about, although the
window has been so pulled apart."

"Better get Michael at once, I should think," Cleo suggested. "I'll
stay here till you come back."

"Not afraid alone----"

"Not a bit. This is like one of our real scout experiences. Do hurry,
Auntie, I am so afraid those people may have carried Mary off!" she
urged.

It took a few minutes to arouse the man in the garage, with the
telephone call. Meanwhile, Cleo was cautiously and quietly looking
about the room. First, naturally, she looked under the bed, next she
threw open the door of the closet, being wise enough to jump to the
hall door as she did so, but not so much as a piece of clothing
stirred. Other articles of furniture in the room that could possibly
serve as a screen were then scrutinized, but they offered no clew.

Finally Cleo stepped to the window ledge, and peered out into the thick
trees that surrounded the house. She put her hands to her eyes to
shade them from the light--wasn't that something