"The more sensible one，by odds.After the quarrel，Inez grabs up baby and runs away，determined to escape from her hated rival and carry Jane beyond her in？uence.Soon after，Mildred discovers the ？ight of the Mexican and，impelled by her duty to you and her desire to circumventa Inez，rushes away in full chase，forgetting to leave any word.Perhaps she thought she would be able to return with baby before we arrived back from town；but Inez has led her a merry chase，which Mildred stubbornly refuses to abandon.I'm an old man，Arthur，and have seen a good deal of life，so mark my words：when the truth of this affair is known，it will be something like the story I've just outlined.I believe I've hit the nail on the head，and I'll admit it's bad enough，even that way.""Then，"said Arthur，more hopefully，"we may findMildred and baby at home，when we return.""Yes；and we may not.If they are home，Arthur，there are plenty there to look after the wee darling，and Louise will be comforted.On the other hand，if they don't return，it must be our business to ？nd them.I can imagine Mildred，fagged outb，in some far—away corner，resolving to stay the nightand return to the ranch in the morning."They remembered to have passed along this road before，that afternoon，on their way home from town.At that time they had seen no sign of the nurses or the baby.But to make assurance doubly sure Arthur stopped at every house to make inquiries and the road was inspected carefully.When they reached town they ？rst visited the local police station and then the telephone office.Here they arranged to have every ranch house within a wide radius called and questioned in regard to the missing baby.Arthur also tried to get his own house，but the wire was still out of service.
Then to the telegraph of？ce，where messages were sent to all the neighboring towns，giving deions of the missing baby and the nurses and offering a liberal reward for any news of their whereaboutsa.
By this time it was necessary to go to the depot，as theevening train was soon due.While they awaited its arrival Arthur and the major closely scanned every member of the group gathered at the station.Weldon even managed to have the train held，on its arrival，until he had passed through all the cars and assured himself that neither Mildred，Inez or baby Jane was aboard.
That automobile would have carried two despairing men away from the little town had it not been for the ray of hope suggested by the major that they would find baby safeat home on their arrival.However，that no chance might be neglected，they took another route，as originally arranged，and patiently continued their vain inquiries all the way back to the ranch.As they entered the driveway at El Cajon the clock inthe brilliantly lighted hall of the mansion was striking ten.
Arthur rushed in and was met by Patsy.
"Any news？"they both cried eagerly；and then their expectant faces fell.
"How is Louise？"faltered Arthur.
"More quiet，now，"answered the girl."She became so violent，after you left，that we were all frightened；so Mrs.Hahn jumped into your little car and drove home，where she telephoned for the doctor.He happened to be at the Wilson place，so she caught him there and he came directly here.He is upstairs yet，but he gave Louise a quieting potion and I think she is now asleep."Arthur started to mount the stairs；then hesitated.
"Are the boys back yet？"he asked.
"Yes；they are now out in the grounds，helping the Mexicans search the shrubberya."The young man shuddered.
"I—I think I'll join them，"he decided，and the major merely gave his daughter a solemn kiss and followed the bereavedb father.
At the back of the mansion the lights of the lanterns weretwinkling like ？re？ies，although the stars shone so brilliantly that all near—by objects were easily distinguished.Arthur and the major joined the men and for two hours longer the search was continued—more because they all felt they must be doing something，than through any hope of success.
Finally，at midnight，the chief searchers met in a groupnear the house，and Rudolph said："Let's go in and rest a bit，and have a smoke.I'm about fagged out and，as a matter of fact，we've covered every inch of these grounds several times over."Arthur silently turned and led the way into the house，where Patsy，Beth and Helen Hahn，all three worn and haggard，met them in the hall.
"Louise？"asked Arthur.
"Sleeping quietly，"replied Beth."Marcia is sitting beside her.""Has Dr.Knox gone？""No；he's in the library，smoking.Eulalia is getting him something to eat，for it seems he missed his dinner.""Why，so did I ！"trilled big Runyon，in his clearest tenor."I've just remembered it.""You must all eat something，"declared Patsy，"else youwon't be fit to continue the search.Go to the library—all of you—and Beth and I will see what we can ？nd in the kitchen."