Not knowing how she could reach Mrs. Martin, the poor woman had put in a call for Drexel Academy and when Dean Craig replied, she had told the circumstances in such a breathless, excited manner that it was hard for him to understand just what had happened, but he did gather that Mrs. Dorsey wished as many boys as he could spare to come at once to Vine Haven to help the sheriff search for someone who was lost.
Benjy Wilson happened to pass the Dean’s office at that moment, and, hearing his name called, he went in.
“Oh, Dean Craig,” he implored, “I beg of you, permit me to go. Two of the girls, who were to remain at the school during their spring vacation, are neighbors of mine in Arizona and I couldn’t do a thing here not knowing what trouble they may be in.”
“I quite agree with you, Benjamin,” the serious young officer replied. “Take two boys with you, any two that you believe would aid you the most, and ride at once to Vine Haven. You may take my car, I shall not need it.”
Scarcely more than an hour elapsed before the three boys dressed in their hiking togs appeared on the wide veranda of the Vine Haven Seminary.
A red-eyed, though pale housekeeper, admitted them. “I haven’t slept a wink, nor eaten either, and I never shall, I’m thinkin’, unless we can find those girls,” she said, when she had finished telling them all she knew about the girls’ departure on the day before.
Benjy was most courteous. “Mrs. Dorsey, do not be so worried. I feel confident that they are safe somewhere. Virginia Davis is an unusually capable girl, as you know, and so are Margaret Selover and Barbara Wente. I am sure they can take care of themselves in any ordinary circumstances. Now if you will tell us in which direction they first went when they left the school, we will start out at once in search of them.”
Mrs. Dorsey felt comforted by the lad’s optimism and told all she knew, which was very little.
“That Betsy Clossen, she as is always thinking up mischief, told me they were an Adventure Club, and that they were starting out to hunt for an adventure. I said ’twas all right as long as they were home before dark. I stood and watched them a spell and they headed for the dairy farm over in the valley, but, by and by, they dropped out of sight below the top of the hill and I went on with my work.”
Benjy rose as did his two companions.