In relief, they hurried to the newly built cabin. Madge unlocked the door and they entered. Everything appeared exactly as they had last seen it.
Madge went confidently to the fireplace and ran her hand up to the hidden ledge. A startled expression passed over her face. She groped about the ledge a second time, more carefully than before.
“What’s the matter?” Anne asked, though she read the answer in her friend’s tense face.
“It’s gone!” Madge answered. “Someone has stolen our book!”
CHAPTER XIII
The Missing Book
“Gone,” Anne echoed blankly. “Oh, it must be there.”
“It isn’t,” Madge insisted. “Oh, I knew something would happen to it!”
“Let me look.”
Madge stepped back to permit Anne to take her place at the chimney. Both were trying desperately to remain calm, attempting to make themselves believe the book had only been misplaced.
“You’re right, it’s not here,” Anne murmured, after feeling carefully along the ledge. “You don’t suppose either your aunt or uncle could have put it away?”