They went to the library and
Graham began telephoning to Gyp's schoolmates--a tedious and
discouraging process, for each reported that she had not seen either Gyp
or Jerry since the close of school.

"I can't _bear_ it! We must do something----" Mrs. Westley sprang to her
feet. "Graham, call Uncle Johnny and tell him to come _at once_."

Something of the mother's alarm affected Isobel and Graham. Graham's
voice was very serious as he begged Uncle Johnny, whom he found at his
club, to come over "at once." Then he slipped his arm around his mother
as though he wanted her to know that he would do anything on earth for
her.

Uncle Johnny listened to the story of Gyp's and Jerry's disappearance
with a very grave face. He made Graham tell twice how the ice had broken
that afternoon on the lake, frightening the skaters away.

"What time was that?"

"Oh--early. About three o'clock. There were only four or five of us on
the lake. You see, hockey practice is over."

"But I remember Gyp saying this morning that she was going to have one
more skate!" cried Isobel suddenly.

"Before we report this to the police, Mary, we'll go out to Highacres,"
Uncle Johnny said. And the thought of what he might find there made Mrs.
Westley grip the back of a chair for support. "Come with me, Graham.
Isobel--stay with your mother."

Graham went off to the garage to give such directions as Uncle Johnny
had whispered to him. Just then Barbara Lee, whom Isobel had reached on
the telephone, came in, hurriedly.

"I talked to the girls for a moment after the close of school. They were
standing near the library door. They had on their coats and hats." Her
report was disquieting.

"May I go with you?" she asked John Westley. He turned to her--something
in her face, in her steady eyes, made him feel that if out at Highacres
he found what he prayed he might _not_ find--he would need her.

"Yes--I want you," he answered simply, wondering a little why, at this
distressed moment, he should feel such an absurd sense of comfort in
having her with him.

They drove away, two long poles and a coil of rope in the tonneau. In
the library Isobel sat holding her mother's hand, wishing she could say
something that would drive that white look from her mother's face. But
her distress left room for the little jealous thought that Uncle Johnny
had told _her_ to stay at home and then had taken Barbara Lee! And she
wondered, too, if it were _she_ who was lost,