"She seems very much agitated," said Captain Putnam. "I am afraid something is wrong." "Can you say what it is, Richard?" "No, sir; excepting Dan Baxter or Josiah Crabtree may have been worrying them again." "Do you mean to tell me that Baxter goes to their house?" "He has been there several times to my knowledge. He's as sweet on Dora Stanhope as Josiah Crabtree is anxious over Mrs. Stanhope--and neither person deserves any encouragement." "I thought the engagement between Mrs. Stanhope and Crabtree was off." "It was--for the time being. But it seems Mr. Crabtree isn't going to give her up--he is too anxious to get hold of Dora's money," and with this remark Dick hurried to the parlor. "Oh, Dick Rover!" cried Mrs. Stanhope, when he entered, "do tell me what has become of Dora." "Dora!" he repeated in bewilderment. "I don't know, I am sure. Has she left home?" "She hasn't been home since she answered your note yesterday afternoon." "My note? I sent her no note." "But I found it lying on the dining-room table last evening, when I came from my room. You see, I had been lying down with a headache." "Mrs. Stanhope, I sent Dora no note. If she got one that was signed with my name it was a forgery." "Oh, Dick Rover!" The lady had arisen on his entrance, now she sank back into a faint. The youth was greatly alarmed, and at once rang for one of the servants and also for Captain Putnam. "What is the matter?" asked the master of the Hall. "Something is very much wrong, sir," replied Dick. "Dora Stanhope has disappeared." "Disappeared!" "Yes, sir. She received some sort of a note signed with my name." No more was said just then, Dick, the captain, and the servant doing all they could to restore Mrs. Stanhope to consciousness. When the lady finally came to her senses she could not keep from crying bitterly. "Oh, where can my Dora be?" she moaned. "Something dreadful has happened to her--I feel certain of it." "Where is that note?" asked Dick. "I left it on the mantelpiece in our dining room. It said: 'Dear Friend Dora: Meet me as soon as you can down at the old boathouse on the lake. I have something important to tell you,' and it was signed 'Richard Rover.'" "Mrs. Stanhope, as true as I stand here, I never wrote that note or sent it." "I believe you, Dick. But who did send it?" "Some enemy who wanted to get her away from the house--Dan Baxter or--" Dick paused. "Or who?" "Well, Josiah Crabtree, if you must know. He hates her and he wants to separate her from you." At the mention of Josiah Crabtree's name a curious shiver passed over Mrs. Stanhope. "We--we'll not talk about Mr. Crabtree," she faltered. "But, oh, I must have my Dora back!" And then she came near to fainting again. "I would like to go over to the Stanhope cottage and investigate," said Dick, after the lady had been placed in Mrs. Green's care. "To my mind it won't do to lose time, either."