e seemed to know.

"He's prowling around the place somewhere," said Ned. "But what
surprises me is that he doesn't scent the food and come running. It's
not like him to hang back when there is anything good to eat."

"Call him," suggested Margaret.

"I will. O-h-h Chunky!"

There was no reply.

"I will go after him," said Walter, running lightly to the other end of
the balcony and down the stone steps.

The lad returned in a few moments, a perplexed frown on his face.

"Find him?" asked Ned.

"No."

"Maybe he's gone back to camp. He's a queer chap."

"I think not. I saw his pony there with the others."

"Oh, well, never mind. He'll get so hungry that he will have to come
out, wherever he is," decided Tad. "I imagine he is hiding somewhere to
make us think he has gone away. Hark! What was that?"

A far away call for help echoed faintly through the church.

They looked at each other with growing uneasiness on their faces.

"It's Chunky," breathed Walter.

"Wh--where is he?" stammered Margaret.

"I don't know. Excuse me; I must go," exclaimed Tad. "The boy is in
trouble again. I knew it--I knew he couldn't keep out of it," he added,
hurrying away from them.

Ned sprang down the steps after Tad and together they disappeared
through a rear door in the auditorium.

CHAPTER XXII

LOST IN THE ADOBE CHURCH

Those up in the gallery could hear the two boys calling to their
companion. There was no answer to their hails, and one by one the little
party left the gallery.

"I tell you he is playing tricks on us," said Ned, after they had
searched all over the place without finding any trace of Stacy.

"No; I don't agree with you," answered Tad. "Something has happened to
him."

"What shall we do?" asked Walter.

"Keep on looking. That is all we can do just now."

Once more they began their search, but with no better results than
before.

"Have you looked outside?" asked Miss Brayton.

"Yes; we looked out. No use in hunting there, for we can see all around
the place from the side door here," answered Tad. "He has gotten into
some place that we know nothing about. We've got to find it, that's
all."

"I would suggest that one of us ride to camp and get some of the men to
come out and help us," advised Walter.

"I'll ride home, and have father send some of his own men," suggested
Margaret.

"Yes; that would be best," agreed Miss Brayton.

"I wish you wouldn't," replied Tad. "It would alar