There were a few more words, but Onoye had reached the limit of her knowledge of the English language.

Mr. Campbell sighed.  Billie was the only girl in the world who wasn’t any trouble, he thought.

CHAPTER XXI.

CONUNDRUMS AND ANSWERS.

“I tell you Nancy is on her way, now, Papa,” said Billie emphatically.  “She would never have had time to get here as soon as yesterday.  The storm would have delayed her.  She couldn’t have reached here.”

Mr. Campbell shook his head anxiously as he paced up and down the piazza waiting for the ’riksha the messenger was to send back from Tokyo.

Billie’s faith in her friend was wonderful.  He admired it, but he was obliged to say he felt rather skeptical himself, all things considered.

“There comes the ’riksha,” announced Mary at last.

Mr. Campbell went into the house for his hat and cane and Billie followed him.  She looked so pale and miserable that he stooped to kiss her and then led her into the library.

“Come in here a moment, little daughter,” he said, “and we’ll talk things over a bit.”

“How are you going to find her, Papa?” Billie asked, wiping away the tears that would well in her eyes every few minutes and trickle down her cheeks.

“I’ll do everything within human power.  The police are excellent and so are the detectives.”

“Why do you think she ran away?” sobbed Billie, breaking down entirely.

“I don’t know, my child.  I can’t make out what the reason was and we’d never get anywhere by guessing.”

“Papa, do you think she could have gone to that widow?  I never told you, but she did once before when we had a quarrel.  She was awfully sorry after the first night and came back.”

Mr. Campbell gave a low whistle.  He had forgotten the Widow of Shanghai’s very existence until that moment.

“I hope she’s there.  That will make it much simpler.  But you mustn’t take on so, little daughter.  Nancy is like lots of headstrong girls.  She resents criticism.  Probably she had a falling out with Cousin Helen and ran away—­”

“I did run away,” said a voice at the door, “but that wasn’t the reason.”

“Nancy!” cried Billie and the two girls rushed into each other’s arms and embraced like sisters long separated.  In the doorway stood Mary and Mr. Buxton.  Mary’s face was beaming with joy and Mr. Buxton wore his old expression of humorous tolerance.

“Where did you find her, Buxton?” asked Mr. Campbell gravely.

“I didn’t find her.  She found me this morning at an unconscionably early hour, too, and a fine time we’ve had of it, I can tell you.  We’ve chased a widow back to Shanghai and we’ve placed a fanatic under bond for good behavior.”

Nancy laughed her old natural laugh with a ripple of gaiety in it.  Her eyes were sparkling and the color flooded her cheeks.  She was prettier than ever, it seemed, and all because she was so happy!  Her jaunty little traveling hat was over one eye and her dress was crushed and wrinkled, but her charming face was radiant.