Farnsworth, too, shook his head, and glanced at Patty with a sympathetic smile, and then they talked together to the entire exclusion of Azalea, who was so wrapped in her own thoughts that she didn't even notice them. Not waiting for coffee, when the others went to the library, Azalea, with the briefest "good-night," went up to her room, and again locked her door. "What does ail her?" exclaimed Patty, as she and her husband sipped their coffee. "I don't know,--but I'm going to find out. Any letter from her father to-day?" "No; I looked over her mail. Oh, it does seem awful, to look inquisitively at another's letters!" "It's necessary, dear, in this case. There's a big mystery about Azalea Thorpe, and we must solve it, or there'll be trouble!" "I wish you'd tell me all about it." "I will, soon. Trust me, darling, I'd rather not say what I suspect, until I've a little more reason for my suspicion. It's _too_ incredible! And yet,--it _must_ be so!" "All right, my True Love. I can wait. Now, listen, and I'll tell you of the marvellous achievement of your daughter to-day!" And Farnsworth listened with all his heart to the amazing tale of Fleurette's intelligent observation of a red balloon. The next day Elise came. "Here I am!" she cried, as she stepped from the motor, and flew into Patty's embrace. "Where's your eccentric cousin I've heard about? But first, where's my godchild? I've brought her the loveliest presents! Let me at her!" "All right," said Patty, laughing at her impatience, "come right along to the nursery before you take your hat off." The two went to the nursery, and Patty softly opened the door. But the room was empty. "That's funny," Patty said, "Winnie always has baby here at this hour. She takes her morning nap about now. Where can they be?" The bassinette was disordered, as if the child had been taken from it, and Patty looked at it in amazement. She ran around to several adjoining rooms, and returned, with a frightened face. "Elise, there's no sign of Baby or Winnie anywhere! What does it mean?" "Goodness! _I_ don't know! Did the nurse go down to see her beau,--and take the baby with her?" Just then Nurse Winnie appeared: "Here's the food, Mrs. Farnsworth," she said, showing a bowl of steaming white liquid. "It's all ready." "What food?" said Patty, mystified. "Miss Thorpe came here fifteen minutes ago, and said you ordered me to a make a bowl of prepared food,--that Fleurette was not getting enough nourishment." "Why, I did nothing of the sort! Where is Miss Thorpe? And where is the baby?" "I don't know," and Winnie looked as if she thought Patty was crazy. "Don't you know, ma'am?" CHAPTER VIII MISSING! Elise gave one glance at Patty's white, scared face and one glance At Nurse Winnie's red, frightened face, and then she herself began To scream. "Stop that, Elise!" Patty cried, "it's bad enough to have my baby kidnapped, without your yelling like a Comanche! Hush, I tell you!"