never saw such a sight in your life, covered with
mud and the tires almost used up."

Phil nodded sympathetically. "Who brought the car back to you?" she
asked. "Was it Mr. Holt?"

Roy Dennis shrugged his heavy shoulders. "No, indeed! He sent it back by
a chap who wouldn't say a word about himself, Holt, or from which
direction he had come."

"Is the man still in town?" asked Phil, her voice trembling, "and would
you mind Tom Curtis's asking him some questions? We are so awfully
anxious."

Roy Dennis rose quickly. "I believe the fellow is around yet, and I'll
get hold of him and take him to Tom at once. I don't think that Philip
Holt has had anything to do with the kidnapping of the little girl, but
his whole behavior looks pretty funny. We will make the chauffeur chap
tell us where Philip Holt was when he turned over my car to him." Roy was
off like a flash.

Phyllis and Lillian were making their apologies to Ethel for being
obliged to hurry off at once to the houseboat when Mabel Farrar took hold
of Phil's hand. Her usually haughty expression had changed to one of the
deepest interest. "I am _so_ sorry about the little lost girl," she said.
"I hope you will soon find her. She is a queer, fascinating little thing.
I have watched her all summer, and she certainly can dance. I can't
believe that Philip Holt has actually stolen her, yet I don't know. Roy
Dennis just told Ethel Swann and me something awfully queer. He says he
found a bright scarlet ribbon, like a bow that a child would wear in her
hair, in the bottom of his motor car when the chauffeur brought it back
to him to-day."

Phil's black eyes flashed. "If I ever needed anything to convince me that
Philip Holt stole Tania away from us that would do it," she returned
indignantly. "Little Tania slept every night with her hair tied up with a
scarlet ribbon so as to keep it out of her eyes. When we find where
Philip Holt is we shall find Tania, and if I have any say in the matter
he shall answer to the law for what he has done."

CHAPTER XXI

THE RACE FOR LIFE

It took the united efforts of the Cape May police, Tom Curtis, and Roy
Dennis to make the chauffeur who had come back with Roy's car say where
he had met Philip Holt, and when Philip had turned over the automobile to
him to be brought back to Roy.

The chauffeur was frightened; he finally broke down and told the whole
story. Philip Holt had driven from the farmhouse where he left Tania to