admitted by Mr. Stanlock. The conference lasted half an hour, but
before half this time had elapsed Lieut. Larkin had the station on the
wire and was giving instructions to the desk sergeant.

To add to the difficulty of the problem, snow began to fall about 5
o'clock, and developed almost into a blizzard in three or four hours.

Next morning the two newspapers of Hollyhill carried big headlines and
column-and-a-half stories of the new strike development, suggestive of
a far-reaching plot that might result in tragedy. Mr. Stanlock had
during the evening received all newspaper calls over a special wire
in his private room, so as not to disturb the guests with the
publicity end of the affair.

In the afternoon Mrs. Stanlock announced that she, being an officer of
the woman's club with an important duty to perform, must attend a
committee meeting from 3 until 4:30 o'clock, and she asked Miss Ladd
to accompany her. The latter consented, but cautioned the girls
against leaving the house, inasmuch as the three detectives were no
longer available for guard duty, having been directed to devote their
entire time to the search for Helen.

There were now at the house only the twelve remaining Camp Fire Girls
and the kitchen maid, Kitty Koepke.

Marion's younger sister and brother were attending a children's
afternoon party a few blocks away. The new chauffeur had been summoned
by Mrs. Stanlock to take her and Miss Ladd to the club rooms where the
committee meeting was to be held.