"I'll do everything within human power. The police are excellent and so are the detectives."
"Why do you think she ran away?" sobbed Billie, breaking down entirely.
"I don't know, my child. I can't make out what the reason was and we'd never get anywhere by guessing."
"Papa, do you think she could have gone to that widow? I never told you, but she did once before when we had a quarrel. She was awfully sorry after the first night and came back."
Mr. Campbell gave a low whistle. He had forgotten the Widow of Shanghai's very existence until that moment.
"I hope she's there. That will make it much simpler. But you mustn't take on so, little daughter. Nancy is like lots of headstrong girls. She resents criticism. Probably she had a falling out with Cousin Helen and ran away—"
"I did run away," said a voice at the door, "but that wasn't the reason."
"Nancy!" cried Billie and the two girls rushed into each other's arms and embraced like sisters long separated. In the doorway stood Mary and Mr. Buxton. Mary's face was beaming with joy and Mr. Buxton wore his old expression of humorous tolerance.
"Where did you find her, Buxton?" asked Mr. Campbell gravely.
"I didn't find her. She found me this morning at an unconscionably early hour, too, and a fine time we've had of it, I can tell you. We've chased a widow back to Shanghai and we've placed a fanatic under bond for good behavior."