rt, and then they were lost in the deep, dark
mud.

Not one, except perhaps Cologne, knew the thoughts that stirred
Dorothy so riotously. What if Tavia had gone over to Lamberts, and so
would incur the displeasure of their hostess? Or, if she had met that
queer man? But she could not have done that! Reckless as she was, she
could not be unaware of the danger of doing such a fool-hardy thing as
that!

"I'm going down under that oak tree," declared Hazel, with an arch
glance at Jack. "There's trout in that stream, and it's too late to
go over to Moose Hill, or Deer Hollow which ever it is."

"Neither," replied Jack. "It's Moose on the level. Yes, we may as well
explore Trout Trammel--though I doubt if they'll come up even at the
sight of those fly colors you wear, Hazel."

"Don't you like this suit? Why it's the very thing--all the way from
New York. And just see the navy emblem."

The invitation brought Jack up very close to the sleeve of Hazel's
sailor suit. Yes, he liked that emblem, first rate, and he said so,
once or twice.

"I vote for a trip to the Lambs," voiced the dainty Claud. "If no one
else wants to go I don't mind, in the least, running over and making
inquiries."

"Oh, don't run, Claud;" cautioned Jack. "It's dreadful on your watch
pocket. Just walk over and give my love to the girl who wears the
rainbow around her head. Tell her that I saw her and she will guess
the rest."

"Well, if she happens to be out on the lawn, might I ask her to join
in this girl-hunt?"

"Oh, you're hunting a lot!" exclaimed Cologne in something like
impatience. "Now, Claud, this it no joke! We are out to find our
lively-loving, luckless little friend, Tavia."

"I'm afraid it's useless," sighed Dorothy. "We may just as well
wait--perhaps she will return at lunch time."

But lunch time came, and lunch time went by, without any trace or
track of Tavia being discovered.

Finally Dorothy broke down, and went to her own room. Cologne followed
her, and there, in the secret nook in the big camp farm, the two girls
discussed every possible clause of the case, and tried with heroic
effort to shed some light on the mystery.

"Was it the Lamberts? Or could it be----"

"Oh, she would never go off with a stranger," declared Dorothy over
and over again. "Surely our Tavia has more common sense than that."

"But it is so lonely up here--no," Cologne corrected herself, "you are
right, of course, Dorothy. She will be back--just