Dorothy Dale's Camping Days

by Margaret Penrose

  CHAPTER X

  THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TAVIA

  After a morning spent in anticipation of the good time Jack hadpromised (and Jack and his friends did know how to give the girls agood time) something happened just as they were about to start off tothe woods.

  Tavia was missing!

  At first the matter was taken as a joke, as it would be quite likeTavia to run off and hide in the hay loft, or in any other outlandishplace; but when, after all kinds of calls, and a thorough search ofthe premises, she failed to be located, there was reasonable alarmamong the campers. The Hays girls from Camp Happy-go-Lucky, had joinedthe party that intended going into the deep woods, so they, too, aidedin the search for Tavia.

  "I give up," said Jack finally, mopping his forehead, for in spite ofthe beautiful bracing air of the mountains, the act of running overthe hill and into the valleys made him perspire.

  "Isn't it queer!" exclaimed Dorothy, thoroughly alarmed. "I have afeeling that something has happened to her."

  "Don't you worry," Jack suggested. "You will be sure to find out thatTavia has happened to something. She has a faculty for that sort ofthing. Let us go off on a day's fun. No use spoiling it all on accountof a whim--I am sure it is nothing more."

  "She did complain of a headache," Cologne remembered, "and I gave hera little soda. She may have thought it best to hide with the headacherather than to worry us about it."

  "We haven't tried the brook," suggested pretty Hazel Hays. "I amalways afraid of brooks."

  "But Tavia swims like a fish," declared Dorothy. "I would never thinkof harm coming to her in the water."

  "Let's try, at any rate," agreed Jack, who never opposed Hazel."Although, unless that big frog gobbled her up, I cannot imagine anypossible danger."

  At this the party set off over the hill to the frog pond. Hazeltrudged along with Jack, Brendon Hays divided his attention betweenDorothy and Cologne, while a very little young man, Claud Miller, byname, and the midget by reputation, took care of Nathalie Weston, avisitor at Camp Lucky.

  Every one could joke but Dorothy. To her the situation was beyondthat.

  "I'll wager we find her up a tree eating apples," lisped Claud. "Inever saw a girl so fond of sweet apples as Miss Tavia. She told me soherself."

  "Told you, you never saw a girl--now Claud! Don't get excited thatway. It's dreadfully hard on your nerves and on your friends."

  "But I say, now, Jack----"

  "Claud, dear, don't. Save it until we find Tavia, and then say to yourheart's content."

  Dorothy had run on ahead and was now looking over the little rusticbridge into the frog pond. The water was not deep, but there wereplainly footprints along its muddy edge.

  "There has been some one here to-day," declared Cologne, "and no oneever comes on our grounds--away up here at any rate."

  "They are the footprints of a man," Jack decided. "Did Tavia, by anymeans, know a man who wore boots size ten?"

  "The only folks she knew in these parts are the Lamberts," answeredCologne. "And she did say, even as late as yesterday, that she wouldrun over to see a rehearsal there--when I wasn't looking."

  "Jolly!" exclaimed Claud. "I have been wishing so much for a chance toknow that younger Lamb. She's the very sweetest----"

  "Spring lamb?" asked Cologne, teasingly. "Claud, you should never takespring lamb upon the recommendation of a strange butcher. It mightturn out to be mutton."

  This sally caused Claud to laugh so vigorously, that he held his handover his watch pocket apprehensively.

  Dorothy was looking under the black bridge. The footprints seemed toturn in beneath the culvert, and then they were lost in the deep, darkmud.

  Not one, except perhaps Cologne, knew the thoughts that stirredDorothy so riotously. What if Tavia had gone over to Lamberts, and sowould incur the displeasure of their hostess? Or, if she had met thatqueer man? But she could not have done that! Reckless as she was, shecould not be unaware of the danger of doing such a fool-hardy thing asthat!

  "I'm going down under that oak tree," declared Hazel, with an archglance at Jack. "There's trout in that stream, and it's too late togo over to Moose Hill, or Deer Hollow which ever it is."

  "Neither," replied Jack. "It's Moose on the level. Yes, we may as wellexplore Trout Trammel--though I doubt if they'll come up even at thesight of those fly colors you wear, Hazel."

  "Don't you like this suit? Why it's the very thing--all the way fromNew York. And just see the navy emblem."

  The invitation brought Jack up very close to the sleeve of Hazel'ssailor suit. Yes, he liked that emblem, first rate, and he said so,once or twice.

  "I vote for a trip to the Lambs," voiced the dainty Claud. "If no oneelse wants to go I don't mind, in the least, running over and makinginquiries."

  "Oh, don't run, Claud;" cautioned Jack. "It's dreadful on your watchpocket. Just walk over and give my love to the girl who wears therainbow around her head. Tell her that I saw her and she will guessthe rest."

  "Well, if she happens to be out on the lawn, might I ask her to joinin this girl-hunt?"

  "Oh, you're hunting a lot!" exclaimed Cologne in something likeimpatience. "Now, Claud, this it no joke! We are out to find ourlively-loving, luckless little friend, Tavia."

  "I'm afraid it's useless," sighed Dorothy. "We may just as wellwait--perhaps she will return at lunch time."

  But lunch time came, and lunch time went by, without any trace ortrack of Tavia being discovered.

  Finally Dorothy broke down, and went to her own room. Cologne followedher, and there, in the secret nook in the big camp farm, the two girlsdiscussed every possible clause of the case, and tried with heroiceffort to shed some light on the mystery.

  "Was it the Lamberts? Or could it be----"

  "Oh, she would never go off with a stranger," declared Dorothy overand over again. "Surely our Tavia has more common sense than that."

  "But it is so lonely up here--no," Cologne corrected herself, "you areright, of course, Dorothy. She will be back--just as soon as she feelslike coming. That's Tavia!"

  But they little knew the danger to which the younger girl hadunwittingly exposed herself.

  No wonder Tavia could not be found within or without the precincts ofthe camp.