“Yes, maybe,” agreed Mary Louise. “I ought to have brought Elsie’s suit, so that if we find her she could go with us. She loved it on Saturday.”
“I’m afraid you’re being a little too optimistic, Daughter,” replied Mr. Gay. “Don’t get your hopes up too high.”
The path grew wide again as they approached the swimming hole, and when they arrived at the stream Mary Louise took off her pack and sat down under a tree. About a dozen children were playing about in the water, and Mary Louise threw a stick into the stream as a signal for Silky to jump in. In another minute the children were romping with him. Then they came out and crowded around Mary Louise, admiring the spaniel and asking his name.
“You didn’t see a girl about fifteen years old in a green silk dress, did you, children?” she inquired.
They shook their heads.
“Were any of you here yesterday morning?” asked Mr. Gay.
Two of the older boys replied that they had been there.
“Did you see the girl then?” persisted the man.
One boy thought that he did remember seeing a young lady—“all dressed up in a silk dress.” But she hadn’t stopped at the pool; she had crossed the bridge fifty yards below and had taken the path right back into the deepest part of the woods.
Mary Louise jumped to her feet. “Come on, Daddy! Let’s get going!”