CHAPTER XV
CONSEQUENCES
Jack found the veranda of the big house deserted, which was most unusual at this hour of the evening.
Only a dim light was burning in the drawing-room. But the front door was open and she walked in without knocking or calling.
Undoubtedly there was a subdued atmosphere about the place. Not yet half-past eight, so surely not all the family could be in bed. At this hour one could at least count upon finding the two oldest of the four new Rainbow ranch girls, Lina and Jeannette. Lina was extremely studious and given to doing a great deal of reading at odd hours. She bore no resemblance to the oldest of the four original Ranch girls, but was like her mother.
Ordinarily one could find her in the library at this time, when she could count upon being fairly undisturbed.
Jack went from the drawing-room to the library on the left side of the house. If not Lina, Professor Russell might be discovered there. He and Jim Colter's oldest daughter had developed a shy friendship from the fact that they often remained together in the big room reading for hours without speaking or disturbing each other.
But to-night there was not even a dim light in the library.
At the foot of the stairs Jack waited, puzzled and frowning for an instant. Then she called softly, "Jean, Jean, what has become of everybody? Certainly you cannot all be asleep!"