"And I was on guard in the hallway," put in the policeman. "She didn't pass me, that I'll swear to."
"I was only gone a few minutes," said the nurse. "And I am sure she did not go through the kitchen."
"How long ago was this?" asked Tom Ostrello.
"Only a few minutes ago. Oh, we must find her," answered Raymond. "If she wanders off in her present state of mind there is no telling what will happen to her."
The four scattered, and a vigorous search was instituted for the missing girl. Soon the news spread and the chief of police came hurrying to the scene.
"Collins, you are responsible for this escape," said he sternly to the policeman.
"I did the best I could, sir," was the nervous answer. "She was that sick, sir, I didn't think she could get out of bed, much less walk off."
"Perhaps she is hiding in the house."
The building was searched from cellar to garret, and so were several other buildings in that vicinity, but without avail. Then the gathering crowd scattered through the woods and along the river.
"I don't believe she was as sick as they pretended," said one of the number. "This is only a bluff to let her get away. I said all along she was a sly one."