d the entrance of that trail; and even in that dusk his trained
eye had noted fresh wheel and hoof prints. But it was not his business
to stop and investigate. He had been set to bring his party to
"Roderick's", not to take care of a tenderfoot who ought to have a
nurse, the fool!

CHAPTER III

THE MIDNIGHT SEARCHING PARTY

The night was growing late and there were anxious hearts at
"Roderick's." The four-in-hand had arrived hours before, and Silent Pete
had also brought his party safely in--to the mutual relief of himself
and Miss Milliken, the latter really surprised to find she had arrived
sound in body and limb. She had promptly retired to the little chamber
assigned herself and Helena, only to reappear in fresh distress.

"My suit-case with my night-things! I can't find it anywhere. The one
they gave me has a lot of boys' things in it-all jumbled together. I'd
like my suit-case, please. I'm worn out with that awful ride and if I've
got to repeat it to-morrow, I must get to rest;" but as the buxom maid
to whom she appealed paid her scant attention, she turned to Helena with
her wail: "Oh, Miss Helena! _Won't_ you make them give me the right
case?"

The emphasis put on the "won't" suggested a desperate need, but merely
annoyed her young mistress, who requested:

"Don't make a nuisance of yourself, Milly. The loss of a suit-case is
nothing compared to--Oh! if Dolly were only safely here!"

"She will be, of course. Haven't I, with my nerves, lived through that
ride? But, you don't understand, dear, I _want my things_. I can't wear
a boy's pajamas--all mussed up, at that. I want, I want to go to bed."

"Then, for goodness' sake--go!" cried Monty Stark, who had come up to
the pair. "That'll give us a rest, too."

"I shall have to sit up all night, then," still moaned the lady, "for
your case isn't to be found either, Miss Helena."

Then finding no greater sympathy from her mistress than from that saucy
boy, the governess betook herself out of the way. She was the only one
of the party which had so gaily left Denver that now cared for anything
except the appearance down the road of the missing buckboard.

Molly and Leslie, congenial spirits, had tried to laugh off their
anxiety and to convince the others that everything was "all right, of
course."

"Likely Dolly Doodles has discovered some new sort of flowers somewhere
and has wandered off to get them. She's always doing that kind of
thing," Molly a