Doctor Herbert Varian was a man accustomed to responsibilities; more, he was accustomed to the responsibilities of other people as well as his own. Yet it seemed to him that the position in which he now found himself was more appalling than anything he had ever before experienced, and that it was liable to grow worse rather than better with successive developments. Varian had what has been called “the leaping mind,” and without being unduly apprehensive, he saw trouble ahead, such as he shuddered to think about. His brother dead, there was the hysterical widow to be cared for. And Betty in hiding—— He paused, his hand on the latch of the door at the top of the stair. Then, squaring his shoulders, he shook off his hesitation and opened the door. He found himself in a small turret room, from which he went on to other rooms on that floor. They were, for the most part, quite evidently unoccupied bedrooms, but two gave signs of being in use by servants. Varian paid little heed to his surroundings, but went rapidly about hunting for the missing girl. “Betty,——” he called, softly; “Betty, dear, where are you? Don’t be afraid,—Uncle Herbert will take care of you. Come, Betty, come out of hiding.” But there was no answer to his calls. He flung open cupboard doors, he peered into dark corners and alcoves, but he saw no trace of any one, nor heard any sound. Two other tiny staircases led up to higher turrets, but these were empty, and search as he would he found no Betty, nor any trace of her. Unwilling to waste what might be valuable time, Doctor Varian went downstairs again. Then, one after another, he visited all the rooms on the second floor but found no sign of his niece. He went again to the room where the women were and beckoned his wife outside. “Minna is asleep?” he asked, in a whisper. “Yes,” Janet replied, “but, of course, only as an effect of that strong opiate you gave her. She tosses and moans,—but, yes, she is asleep.” “I dread her waking. What _are_ we to do with her? And, Janet, where is Betty? I’ve been all over these upper floors,—and now I’ll tackle the rooms downstairs, and the cellar. The girl must be found——” “Herbert! Did you ever know such a fearful situation? And—as to—Frederick—don’t you have to——” “Yes, yes, of course; the authorities must be called in. Don’t think I haven’t realized that. But first of all we must find Betty—dead or alive!” “Don’t say that!” Janet clutched at his arm. “I can’t bear any more horrors.” “Poor girl,—you may have to. Brace up, dear, I’ve all I can do to——” “Of course you have,” his wife kissed him tenderly. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t add to your burdens, and I will help all I can. Thank heaven that kind woman took Eleanor away with her.” “Yes; but I daresay we ought to have kept them all here. There’s crime to be considered, and——” “Never mind, they’re gone,—and I’m glad of it. You can get them back when necessary.”