The only one who recollected seeing Inez was Eulalia，a chambermaid.She had observed Inez sitting in the court，in a despondent attitude，at about half past two.Yes；it might have been a little earlier；it was hard to remember.None of the house servants paid much attention to the nurses.They hadtheir own duties to perform.
But the baby had not been seen at all；not since Inez had brought her in from her ride at noon.Then it was Miss Travers who had taken the child from the cab and with her disappeared into the nursery.
This report did not prove reassuring.Sing Fing announced that Miss Travers had prepared the baby's liquid food in the kitchen at half past twelve，but that neither she nor Inez had joined the other servants at luncheon.This last was not an unusual occurrence，it seemed，but taken in connection with the other circumstances it impressed the questioners as suspicious.
"Perhaps they are all at the Mexican quarters，"exclaimedPatsy，with sudden inspiration.
Arthur and Rudolph immediately volunteered to investigate the quarters and started off on a run.
"It's all right，you know，"consolingly panted Dolph，on the way."The baby and her nurses can't be lost，strayed or stolen，so don't worry.""Common sense urges me to agree with you，"returned Arthur，"but there's certainly something mysterious about thedisappearance.""It won't be mysterious when we discover the reason，you know."The men were all at work in the olive grovesa，but someof the women were in the huts and old Bella listened to Arthur's frantic questions with blank amazement，as did the others who hastily congregated.
"Thees morn，"said Bella，"Inez bring Mees Janehere for little time—not long time.Then she takes her 'way again.""While Inez here，"said another woman，"I see thatother—the American nurse—behind hedge，yonder，watching us.""How you know that？"demanded Bella sharply，as sheturned to the speaker.
"I know because she is stranger，"was the calm reply."Inez see her，too，an'that ees why Inez hurry away.""Which way did she go？"asked Arthur，and they all pointed to the path that led to the house.
"It doesn't matter，"suggested Dolph."We know that boththe nurses were in the house afterward.The main point is that the baby is not here."As they started to return they came face to face with old Miguel.The shadow was deep beneath the trees but there wasno mistaking the Mexican's snow—white hair.
"Have you seen baby？"demanded Weldon eagerly.
Miguel stared at them.He came nearer，putting his face close to his master's，and stared harder.
"Mees Jane？You ask for Mees Jane？"
"Yes.Tell me，quick，do you know where she is？""Mees Jane mus'be at house，"said Miguel，passing ahand over his eyes as if bewildered.
"She is not，"said Rudolph."She is gone，and both her nurses are gone.""Inez gone？"repeated the old man，stupidly."Ah；thenshe have carried away Mees Jane！I was 'fraid of that.""Carried her away ！Why should she do that ？"askedArthur impatiently.
"She jealous of New York girl—Mees Travers.Inez say she kill Mees Travers；but I tell her no.I say better not.But Inez hate thees girl for taking Mees Jane away from her.Inez love baby，Meest Weld；too much to be safe nurse."While Arthur tried to comprehend this strange information Rudolph said to Miguel：
"Then you haven't seen the baby？You don't know where she is？"The old Mexican gave him a keen look."No，Meest Hahn.""You don't know where Inez has gone？""No，Meest Hahn.""Nor the other nurse—the American girl？""No，Meest Hahn."They hurried back to the house，leaving the old Mexican standing motionless beside the path.
