Oh, do you think that? Then let us find her!
We cant both go. Will you remain here and meet the others or shall I stay here while you go to look for the girl?
Claire Blackwood pondered. Either suggestion was too hard for her to accept.
I cant, she said, at last. Im a coward, I suppose, but I cant search this great, empty house, for Betty. And, if she were in it, she would surely come here to us,
Doctor Varian looked at her.
Then Ill go, he said, simply. You stay here.
No! Claire grasped his arm. I cant do that either. Oh, Doctor Varian, stay here with me! Think, these are not my people, Im sympathetic, of course, but, Im terrified, Im afraid
Theres nothing to fear.
I cant help that, I wont stay here alone. If you leave me, I shall run down the path to meet them.
Then Ill have to stay here. Very well, Mrs Blackwood, theyll arrive in a few moments, well wait for them together.
And then Varian again fell to ruminating, and Claire Blackwood, sick with her own thoughts, said no word.
At last they heard footsteps, and looked out to see the little procession headed by the two sisters-in-law.
Janet Varian was half supporting Minna, but her help was not greatly needed, for the very violence of Minnas grief and fright gave her a sort of supernormal strength and she walked uprightly and swiftly.
Wheres Frederick? she demanded, in a shrill voice as she came up the steps, and wheres Betty? Wheres my child?
Her voice rose to a shriek on the last words, and Doctor Varian took her by the arm, giving her his undivided attention.
Be careful now, Minna, he said, kindly but decidedly; dont lose your grip. Youve a big trouble to face, and do try, dear, to meet it bravely.
Im brave enough, Herbert, dont worry about that. Wheres Fred, I say?
Here, was the brief reply, and Varian led her to her husbands body.
As he had fully expected, she went into violent hysterics. She cried, she screamed, then her voice subsided to a sort of low, dismal wailing, only to break out afresh with renewed shrieks.
Perhaps its better that she should do this, than to control herself, the Doctor said; shell soon exhaust herself at this rate, and may in that way become more tractable. I wish we could get her to bed.
We can, responded his wife, promptly. Ill look after that. Give a look at Eleanor, Herbert.
The harassed doctor turned his attention to his daughter, who was controlling herself, but who was trembling piteously.
Good girl, said her father, taking her in his arms. Buck up, Nell, dear. Dads got a whole lot on his shoulders, and my, how it will help if you dont keel over!
I wont, and Eleanor tried to smile.
Claire Blackwood approached the pair.
Doctor Varian, she said, suppose I take your daughter home with me for the night, or longer, if shell stay. It might relieve you and your wife of a little care, and Ill be good to her, I promise you. And, if I may, Id like to go now. I cant be of any service here, can I? And as Miss Eleanor cant either, what do you think of our going now?
A very good idea, Mrs Blackwood, and the doctors face showed grateful appreciation. Take one of the young men with you, and leave the other here to help me.
Well take John Clark, Claire decided, and Ted Landon will, I know, be glad to stand by you.
The three departed, and then the sisters-in-law left the room and went upstairs, Minna making no resistance to Janets suggestions.
Left alone with the dead, Doctor Varian and young Landon looked at each other.
What does it all mean? asked the younger man, a look of absolute bewilderment on his face.
I cant make it out, returned the other, slowly. But its a pretty awful situation. Now the women are gone, Ill speak out the thing that troubles me most. Wheres Betty?
Who? Miss Varian? Why, yes, where is she? She came for her camera, you know. She why, she must be in the house.
She must be, that is, I cant see any alternative. I understand theres no way out of this house, save down the path we took.
No other, sir.
Then if the girls in the house, she must be found.
Yes, and Landon saw the terrible fear in the others eyes, and his own glance responded. Shall we search the rooms?
That must be done. Now, Im not willing to leave the body of my brother unattended. Will you watch by it, while I run over the house, or the other way about?
Ill do as you prefer I should, Doctor Varian, but if you give me a choice, Ill stay here. Ive never been in the house before, and I dont know the rooms. However, I want to be frank, and, the truth is, Id rather not make that search, even if I did know the rooms.
I understand, Mr Landon, and I dont blame you. Ive never been in the house before either, and I dont at all like the idea of the search, but it must be made, and made at once, and its my place to do it. So, then, if youll remain here, Ill go the rounds.
Ted Landon nodded silently, and sat down to begin the vigil he had been asked to keep.
Herbert Varian went first upstairs to Minnas room, and opening the door softly, discovered the widow was lying quietly on her bed. Janet, sitting by, placed a warning forefinger against her lip, and seeing that the patient was quiet, Varian noiselessly closed the door and tiptoed away.
He stood a moment in the second story hall, looking upward at a closed door, to which a narrow and winding staircase would take him.
Should he go up there, or search the two lower stories first? He looked out of a window at the foot of the little stair.
It gave West, and afforded no view of the sea. But the wild and inaccessible rocks which he saw, proved to him finally that there was no way of approach to this lonely house, save by that one and only path he had already climbed. He sighed, for this dashed his last hope that Betty might have left the house on some errand or some escapade before her father had reached it.
With vague forebodings and a horrible sinking at his heart, he began to ascend the turret stair.
CHAPTER IV
The Search
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? Dont 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? Ive been all over these upper floors, and now Ill 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 dont you have to
Yes, yes, of course; the authorities must be called in. Dont think I havent realized that. But first of all we must find Betty dead or alive!
Dont say that! Janet clutched at his arm. I cant bear any more horrors.
Poor girl, you may have to. Brace up, dear, Ive all I can do to
Of course you have, his wife kissed him tenderly. Dont be afraid. I wont 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. Theres crime to be considered, and
Never mind, theyre gone, and Im glad of it. You can get them back when necessary.
But its a mystery, oh, what shall I do first? I never felt so absolutely unable to cope with a situation. But the first thing is to hunt further for Betty.
Pursuant of his clearest duty, Doctor Varian went on through the yet unsearched rooms, on to the kitchen, and on down to the cellar. He made a hasty but careful search, flinging open closets, cupboards and storerooms, and returned at last to the hall where Ted Landon sat with folded arms, keeping his lonely vigil.
I cant imagine where Betty can be, and Varian sank wearily into a chair.
She must be in the house, said Landon, wonderingly, for theres no way out, except down the path where we all were.
Theres a back door, I suppose.
I mean no way off the premises. Yes, there must be a back door you know Ive never been in this house before.
No; well, look here, Landon; the authorities must be notified; the local doctor ought to be called in, and all that. But first, I want to find Betty. Suppose I stay here, Im I admit Im pretty tired, and you take a look out around the back door, and kitchen porch. By the way, the servants will be coming home soon
No, they were to stay out for the evening, I think Mrs Varian said.
But those people who went back to the village will, of course, tell of the matter, and soon well have all kinds of curious visitors.
All right, Doctor Varian, Ill do just what you say.
The younger man went on his errand, and going through the kitchen, found the back porch. To reach it he had to unlock the outside door, thus proving to his own satisfaction that Betty had not gone out that way.