Never once, however, did he release her hand until he had her safe in one of the town hacks and they had started down the road.
When Grace and her friends finally recovered from their wild joy and excitement there was no Anne to be found.
"Perhaps she stayed in her seat," exclaimed Grace, but the place was quite empty.
David and Jessica looked about them uneasily.
"What chumps we were!" said the young man presently.

"We never bothered to look after her, and now probably that old parent of hers has actually gone and kidnapped the poor child." They searched through the crowds everywhere, but Anne was nowhere about.
At last David and Jessica confessed their suspicions to Grace.
"Oh, oh!" cried Grace, "I feel as if we were personally responsible for her! What shall we do ?" David thought a minute.
"Is there a play at the Opera House to-night ?" he asked presently.
"I believe there is," replied Grace.

"Why ?" "Ten to one Anne's father is acting in it," said David, "and that is the reason he happens to be in Oakdale to-day." "That's a very brilliant idea if it happens to be true," said Jessica.
"But don't you think we had better see Miss Mary Pierson before we do anything ?" "No," exclaimed Grace decisively.

She was in the habit of thinking quickly and her friends usually let her have her way; but it was generally the best way.

"It would be a pity to alarm her unnecessarily if we can avoid it.