CHAPTER VIII—VERY MYSTERIOUS 

Arthur found Louise developing hysteria, while Beth, Patsy and Helen Hahn were working over her and striving to comfort her. Uncle John, the major and big Runyon stood gazing helplessly at the dolorous scene. 

“Well? Well?” cried Mr. Merrick, as Weldon and young Hahn entered. “Any news?” 

Arthur shook his head and went to his wife, bending over to kiss her forehead. 

“Be brave, dear!” he whispered. 

It needed but this tender admonition to send the young mother into new paroxysms. 

“See here; we’re wasting time,” protested Runyon, his voice reaching high C in his excitement. “Something must be done!” 

“Of course,” cried Patsy, turning from Louise. “We’re a lot of ninnies. Let us think what is best to do and map out a logical program.” 

The others looked at her appealingly, glad to have some one assume command but feeling themselves personally unequal to the task of thinking logically. 

“First,” said the girl, firmly, “let us face the facts. Baby Jane has mysteriously disappeared, and with her the two nurses.” 

“Not necessarily with her,” objected Rudolph. “Let us say the two nurses have also disappeared. Now, the question is, why?” 

A shriek from Louise emphasised the query. 

“Don’t let’s bother with the ‘why?’” retorted Patsy. “We don’t care why. The vital question is ‘where?’ All we want, just now, is to find baby and get her back home again to her loving friends. She can’t have been gone more than four hours—or five, at the most. Therefore she isn’t so far away that an automobile can’t overtake her.” 
Who is hysteric?
Arthur found Louise developing hysteria