“I haven’t seen Janet for several hours.”
“Maybe she’s got a date with a boy friend in the desert.”
“Janet hasn’t any boy friend and she wouldn’t be dating in the desert,” snapped Helen.
“Have it your own way,” retorted Bertie, but as she turned away a sneer distorted her vapid face.
Helen finally communicated her fears to her father.
“I’ve gone over the entire camp and no one has seen Janet for at least an hour and none of them are sure it was that recent. I’m worried.”
Henry Thorne, busy working with one of the writers on a difficult bit of script that needed smoothing up half way dismissed Helen’s fears with a wave of his hand. Then he stopped.
“You’re sure she’s not in camp?” he asked.
“I’m positive, Dad. Do you think anything terrible has happened?”
“Of course not. She’s probably walked out into the desert and has gone too far. I’ll rout out some of the men and we’ll start a searching party.”