In her worried condition, Mrs. Hilliard awakened twice during the night and went down and looked into the girl’s empty room. At six o’clock she could stand the anxiety no longer, and she called Mr. Gay on the long distance telephone.
He was in bed, asleep, but the first ring at his bedside awakened him. He listened to Mrs. Hilliard’s news with a sinking heart, remembering the dreadful thing which had happened to his daughter the previous summer, while she was investigating a mystery of crime.
“I’ll take the seven o’clock train to Philadelphia!” he cried, already snatching his clothing from the chair beside his bed.
In his haste and his deep concern for his daughter he forgot entirely that this was Christmas morning. When the waiter in the dining car greeted him with a respectful “Merry Christmas, sir,” Mr. Gay stared at him blankly. Then he remembered and made the correct reply.
One look at Mrs. Hilliard’s face as he entered Stoddard House told him that there was no news of his girl. Mary Louise had not returned.
“The only place I can think of,” said Mrs. Hilliard, “for I’ve already gotten in touch with the Walder girls, is that empty house out in Center Square, where she was hit on the head the night she went there with Max Miller.”
“I’ll drive right out there,” announced Mr. Gay immediately. “I guess I can make inquiries at the hotel.... And in the meantime I’ll notify the Philadelphia police, but I’ll warn them not to give out the news on the radio till I get back.... I don’t want to alarm Mary Lou’s mother until it is necessary.”
Ten minutes later he was in a taxicab, directing the driver to speed as fast as the law allowed to Center Square.
CHAPTER XV
Christmas Morning
Christmas morning!