“Gentlemen,” said Anderson, as if suddenly coming from a trance, “this wasn’t the work of Tinkletown desperadoes.”  Whereupon the committee felt mightily relieved.  The marshal displayed signs of a returning energy that augured well for the enterprise.  After the chairman had impressively announced that something must be done, and that he was willing to lead his little band to death’s door—­and beyond, if necessary—­Mr. Crow pathetically upset all their hopes by saying that he had long been expecting such a calamity, and that nothing could be done.

“They took the very night when I was not here to pertect her,” he lamented.  “It shows that they been a-watchin’ me all along.  The job was did by persons who was in the employ of her family, an’ she has been carried off secretly to keep me from findin’ out who and what her parents were.  Don’t ye see?  Her mother—­or father, fer that matter—­couldn’t afford to come right out plain an’ say they wanted their child after all these years.  The only way was to take her away without givin’ themselves away.  It’s been the plan all along.  There ain’t no use huntin’ fer her, gentlemen.  She’s in New York by this time, an’ maybe she’s ready fer a trip to Europe.”

“But I should think she’d telegraph to you,” said Blootch.

“Telegraph yer granny!  Do you s’pose they’d ‘a’ stole her if they intended to let her telegraph to anybody?  Not much.  They’re spiritin’ her away until her estate’s settled.  After a while it will all come out, an’ you’ll see if I ain’t right.  But she’s gone.  They’ve got her away from me an’—­an’ we got to stand it, that’s all.  I—­I—­cain’t bear to think about it.  It’s broke my heart mighty ne—­near.  Don’t mind me if—­I—­cry, boys.  You would, too, if you was me.”

As the committee departed soon after without any plan of action arising from the interview with the dejected marshal, it may be well to acquaint the reader with the history of the abduction, as told by Roscoe Crow and his bosom friend, Bud Long, thoroughly expurgated.

According to instructions, no one in the Crow family mentioned the strange disappearance of Elsie Banks to Rosalie.  Nor was she told of the pursuit by the marshal and his posse.  The girl, far from being afflicted with a fever, really now kept in her room by grief over the departure of her friend and companion.  She was in tears all that night and the next day, suffering intensely in her loss.  Rosalie did not know that the teacher was to leave Tinkletown surreptitiously until after the spelling-bee.  The sly, blushing announcement came as a shock, but she was loyal to her friend, and not a word in exposure escaped from her lips.  Of course, she knew nothing of the sensational developments that followed the uncalled-for flight of Elsie Banks.

Shortly after the supper dishes had been cleared away Rosalie came downstairs and announced that she was going over to read to old Mrs. Luce, who was bedridden.  Her guardian’s absence was not explained to her, and she did not in the least suspect that he had been away all day on a fool’s errand.  Roscoe and Bud accompanied her to Mrs. Luce’s front door, heavily bound by promises to hold their tongues regarding Miss Banks.