It stood, still and sombre, a black thing amid blacker shadows. The aspen branches soughed eerily, but no other sound broke the silence. The great doors were closed, the windows all shut, and no sign of life was visible. Zizi hesitated. Should she whistle beneath Penny Wise's window, or---- The alternative she thought of seemed to her best, and she drew her wet draperies about her and scuttled off at a smart pace toward the village. Barefooted as she was, she chose grassy ground whenever possible, but her feet were sadly cut and bruised before she reached her destination. This was the house of Dan Peterson, and a ring at his doorbell, brought the sound of a hastily flung-up window, and a sharp "Who's there?" "Me," said Zizi, truthfully, "please let me in." Not quite certain of the identity of his caller, but touched by the pleading little voice, Peterson came downstairs, followed by his wife. A few words of explanation resulted in Zizi's being put into warm, dry clothes, and tucked into bed by Mrs. Peterson, who admonished her to 'sleep like a baby till mornin'.' Which, nothing loth, Zizi did. Morning at Black Aspens brought a shock of surprise. It was Hester who first discovered the absence of Zizi from the Room with the Tassels. Hester had been fond of the child from the beginning, and in spite of her fifteen years, and her even older world-knowledge, Zizi was a child, in many ways. Hester mothered her whenever possible, though Zizi's natural efficiency made little assistance really necessary. But Hester loved to wait on her, and so, this morning, when, going into the room with a can of hot water, she found no sleepy little occupant of the great bed, she ran straight upstairs to Miss Carnforth's room. "Where's that child?" she demanded as Eve opened the door to her loud knock. "What child? Who?" "Zizi. She's gone! Sperrited away! What have you done with her?" "Hush, Hester! You act crazy----" "And crazy I am, if any harm's come to that girl! Where is she?" Doors opened and heads were thrust out, as the voice of the irate Hester was heard about the house. Penny Wise, in bathrobe and slippers, appeared, saying, "What's up? Zizi disappeared?" "Yes," moaned Hester, "her bed's been slept in, but she ain't nowhere to be found. Oh, where can she be?" "Be quiet," commanded Wise. He ran downstairs, and examined the doors and windows minutely. Except for those that Hester or Thorpe had opened that morning, all were locked as they had been left the night before. "She may be in the house somewhere," suggested Norma, wide-eyed and tearful. "Not she," said Wise. "She would hear our commotion, and come to us. Zizi is not one to play mischievous tricks." "But how did she get out?" "How did Vernie's body get out?" asked Braye, gravely. "There's no chance for a human marauder this time." "No," and Professor Hardwick looked over the great locks and bolts on the front doors, and examined the window catches.