简依然下落不明，众人想办法去寻找，到底是哪位保姆带走了简？为什么要带走简？人们各执一词……
Arthur found Louise developing hysteria，while Beth，Patsy and Helen Hahn were working over her and striving to comfort her.Uncle John，the major and big Runyon stood gazing helplessly at the dolorousa scene.
"Well？Well？"cried Mr.Merrick，as Weldon and youngHahn entered."Any news ？"Arthur shook his head and went to his wife，bending over to kiss her forehead.
"Be brave，dear！"he whispered.
It needed but this tender admonitionb to send the young mother into new paroxysmsc.
"See here；we're wasting time，"protested Runyon，hisvoice reaching high C in his excitement."Something must be done！""Of course，"cried Patsy，turning from Louise."We're a lot of ninniesd.Let us think what is best to do and map out a logical program."The others looked at her appealingly，glad to have someone assume command but feeling themselves personally unequal to the task of thinking logically.
"First，"said the girl，rmly，"let us face the facts.BabyJane has mysteriously disappeared，and with her the two nurses.""Not necessarily with her，"objected Rudolph."Let us say the two nurses have also disappeared.Now，the question is，why？"A shriek from Louise emphasized the query.
"Don't let's bother with the 'why？'"retorted Patsy."We don't care why.The vital question is 'where？'All we want，just now，is to ？nd baby and get her back home again to her loving friends.She can't have been gone more than four hours—or five，at the most.Therefore she isn't so far away that an automobile can't overtake her.""But she can't walk，you know，"squeaked Runyon."Baby didn't go alone；some one took her.""True enough，"observed Uncle John."You're wrong，Patsy.We must try to decide who took baby，and why.Then we might undertake the search with a chance of success.""Whoever took baby went on foot，"persisted MissDoyle."The only four automobiles in the neighborhood are now standing in our driveway and in the garage.This is a country of great distances，and no matter in what direction the baby has been taken an auto is sure to overhaul her，if we don't waste valuable time in getting started.""That's right！"cried Arthur，turning from Louise."Thetheory agrees with old Miguel's suspicion about Inez，and—""What suspicion？"cried half a dozen.
"Never mind that，"said Rudolph，with a hasty glance toward Louise；"let's be off，and talk afterward.""We men must decide on our routes and all take the road at once，"proposed Rudolph.
"It's pitch dark，"said Runyon.
"Would you like to wait until morning？"demanded Rudolph，sarcastically.
"No；I want to rescue that baby，"said the big fellow."Then take the north road，as far as Tungar's ranch.Stopat every house to inquire.When you get to Tungar's，come back by the McMillan road.That's a sixty mile jaunt，and it will cover the north and northwest.Take Mr.Merrick with you.Now，then，off you go！"Runyon nodded and left the room，followed gladly byUncle John，who longed to be doing something that would count.The others soon heard the roar of the motor car as it started away on its quest.
Then it was arranged for Arthur to drive back to Escondido to make inquiries and to watch the departure of the evening train，the only one to pass the station since baby had been missing.He was to carry Major Doyle with him and return by another route.Hahn promised to cover with his own car the only other two roads that remained to be searched，and he figured that they would all return to the house within two or three hours，when—if still there was no news—they might plan a further pursuit of the fugitive baby.
Helen Hahn had promised not to leave Louise until baby was found，and before starting Arthur assisted his wife to herroom，where he left her weeping dismally one moment and screaming for little Jane the next.
Sing Fing had sent a maid to announce dinner，but no onepaid any attention to the summons.
After the three automobiles had departed，Patsy and Beth remained in the nursery and left Helen and a maid with Louise.
Once alone，Miss Doyle said to her cousin：
"Having started them upon the search，Beth，you and I must take up that pertinenta suggestion made by Mr.Hahn and face the important question：'Why？'""I'm dying to be of some use，dear，"responded Bethin a disconsolateb tone，"but I fear we two girls are quite helpless.How can we tell why the baby has been stolen？""Has she been stolen？"inquired Patsy."We mustn't take even that for granted.Let us be sensible and try to marshal our wits.Here's the fact：baby's gone.Here's the problem：why？""We don't know，"said Beth."No one knows.""Of course some one knows.Little Jane，as our friend Bul Run reminded us，can't walk.If she went away，she was carried.By whom？And why？And where？""Dear me ！"cried Beth，despairingly；"if we knew all that，we could ？nd baby.""Exactly.So let's try to acquire the knowledge."She went into Mildred's room and made an examination of its contents.The place seemed in its usual order，but manyof Mildred's trinkets and personal possessions were scattered around.
"Her absence wasn't premeditated，"decided Patsy."Herwhite sweater is gone，but that is all.This fact，however，may prove that she expected to be out after dark.It is always chilly in this country after sundown and doubtless Mildred knew that.""Why，she used to live here！"cried Beth."Of course sheknew."Patsy sat down and looked at her cousin attentively.
