"There ought to be some way in which we could help. Let's try to think of something." It was the quiet Shirley who spoke, and, coming from her, the suggestion seemed possible, for Shirley was always so well balanced in all her thoughts that the girls often looked to her when they had perplexities to overcome.
"There's one thing sure, that fan didn't just up and walk out by itself. Somebody took it out!" exclaimed Kit.
"And another thing that's sure, is that it was on the desk, for Phil said he put it there," said Bet emphatically.
"Maybe he just thought he did!" sighed Joy.
"No, we've gone into all that, Chief Baldwin, Mr. Longworth, Uncle Nat and everybody. There isn't any question about it," declared Bet. "Phil put the fan on the desk, I know he did!"
"Then, who took it?" demanded Shirley. "Who would know that it was valuable? And who would want it?"
"Say Shirley, if you ever get tired of photography and want a new job, you'd better be a detective," laughed Kit. "Go on, ask some more questions and maybe we'll hit on the right solution to the mystery."
The girls laughed, but Kit added: "No fooling, girls! I know a woman in Arizona who trapped a cattle rustler all by herself, and if she did that, why can't we find the fan?"
"That's right. The Merriweather Girls should be able to find a clue. I'm sure Lady Betty would have done so in less than no time," remarked Joy.
"Perhaps she would. I wonder," said Bet sadly.