"Did you ever hear Russ say where it was he was having his patent
attachment made?" asked Alice.

"I never did," confessed Ruth. "He said it was somewhere on the East
Side, but that's very indefinite."

"Then the only thing to do is to find Russ and tell him," decided
Alice, as she removed, with the tip of her tongue, a spot of jam from
a forefinger. "We've just got to find him.

"Now I'll tell you what we'll do, Ruth. You stay here and as soon as
Mrs. Dalwood, or Billy, or perhaps even Russ comes home, you tell
them all about this plot."

"But what will you do?"

"I'll go find Russ."

"What! Alone?"

"Why not? We can't both go. Oh, I see!" and a light broke over the
face of Alice. "You mean you think it's _your_ place to warn him.
Well, maybe it is. I'm sure he would like----"

"Now, Alice, I didn't mean that at all, and you know it. I meant you
oughtn't to be going about New York alone, and it's getting late. It
will soon be dark."

"Nonsense! It isn't six o'clock yet."

"I know. But I can't allow you. We'll both go."

"But someone ought to be here to tell them as soon as one comes
home."

"We can write a note and leave it under the door. Then we can leave a
note for daddy. He'll be worried when he comes back and finds us
gone. That's the best plan, Alice. Leave a note for Russ, and then
you and I will try to find him. They may know at the studio where he
has gone. Or he may be there yet."

"All right!" agreed Alice, after a moment's thought.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE MISSING MODEL

Two notes were quickly written. One was left on the table in the
girls' apartment, telling their father that they were going out for a
little while, to try to locate Russ on a matter of some importance
connected with the moving pictures.

"There's no use telling daddy what has happened," said Alice. "He
would only worry, and really there's no danger. We are merely going
to warn Russ. He'll have to look after the men himself. But daddy
would be sure to think we would get into some trouble. So we may as
well not bother him."

"All right!" agreed Ruth. She was entering into the spirit of the
affair now. Her eyes were shining and her cheeks vied in hue with
those of Alice.

The other note, marked "Urgent!" was thrust under the kitchen door of
the Dalwood flat.

"They'll be sure to see that," remarked Alice. "And, no matter if
only Billy comes home first, he'll know what to do," for the story of
the men's talk in