.

Accordingly he hurried along and was at the steps almost as soon as
the automobiles came to a stop.

Together with a company of laughing guests, Nancy and Mr. and Mrs.
Crowninshield alighted.

"Such a beautiful ride as we've had, Dick!" called Mrs. Crowninshield
to her son. "We've been over to Harwich and picked up the Davenports,
you see, and brought them home for the evening. I think, Mrs.
Davenport, you remember my son, Richard. Nancy, take Janet and Marie
in with you so they can leave their wraps. You young people will have
just about time for a set of tennis before dinner."

The cars had shot away and she was about to go indoors when the
mistress of the house espied Walter.

"Did you wish to see me?" she called.

"I thought I'd take Lola down to the kennels."

"Lola! Is she here?"

"I thought you had her."

"No, indeed."

"But she must be here at the house."

"No, she isn't. I never leave her with the maids. She is at the
kennels."

"I've just come from there."

"And she wasn't there?"

"No, ma'am."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive!"

"But my dear boy, didn't you leave her there?"

"Yes. But I thought you took her when you went to drive. You have a
key."

"I didn't."

"And you did not give the key to any of the maids?"

"Of course not."

"Well, she isn't there," announced Walter, a tremor of trepidation
passing over him.

"Nonsense! She must be. Where else could she be?"

"I don't know."

"Oh, you haven't half looked," smiled Mrs. Crowninshield reassuringly.
"Lola is such a tiny dog she often gets hidden away out of sight. I'll
come and find her for you."

Excusing herself to her guests she followed Walter across the grass
and in silence they unfastened the wire gate that led into the
enclosure where the Pekingese were kept. But search as they would they
failed to discover the missing dog. Lola was gone! _Gone!_

CHAPTER VII

THE PURSUIT OF LOLA

Yes, Lola was gone; there could be no question about that.

Had not Walter scented trouble he would soon have been made aware of
it by the excitement that prevailed in the Peeks' kennels. Every dog
of the lot was barking furiously and with gleaming eyes and tail erect
striving to communicate tidings of importance. Yet bark as they might,
the message they sought to voice remained, alas, untold.

"If they could only speak we should soon know what has happened,"
bewailed the lad to Mrs. Crowninshield, as for the hundredth ti