They were in splendid spirits as they approached Naki’s house. No one of them doubted, for an instant, that Mr. Winthrop Latham would find little Eunice was his niece.
“You run in and ask the grandmother whether Eunice may take a ride with us, Mollie,” Ruth suggested as she stopped her car. “If Naki is at home, ask him to step out here a minute. I want to prepare him for the call of Aunt Sallie and Mr. Latham.”
In three minutes Mollie flew out of the house again. She was alone. There was no sign of Eunice!
“O girls!” Mollie cried, “Eunice and her grandmother are gone!”
“Gone where?” Bab queried.
“Back to their own wigwam!” Mollie continued. “Last night Ceally says a woman, heavily veiled, came here, accompanied by a young man. They talked to the Indian woman and Eunice a long time. They told the squaw a man was in pursuit of her. He would come this morning to take her away. She was so frightened that Naki and Ceally could do nothing to influence her. She started with Eunice, last night, for their wigwam in the hills. Who do you think her visitors were?”
“Mrs. Latham and Reginald!” cried the other three girls at once.
“It is all so plain,” argued Ruth. “Mr. Latham probably told his sister, last night, that he had seen Eunice, and meant to come here, this morning, and find out who the child really was. Mrs. Latham and Reginald then rushed here to get the squaw and the child out of the way until they could have time to plan.”
“But what shall we do now?” asked Mollie, her eyes full of tears. “I do not believe Mrs. Latham and Reginald will be content with sending Eunice and her grandmother back to their own hill. Mr. Latham could follow them up there. I know they will try to spirit Eunice away altogether. They will not wait. Oh, what, what can we do?”
“I know,” Ruth answered quietly.