"I know you don't like Azalea, but I must ask you not to talk against her while you are under my roof.
Whatever she is, she is my kin,--and I shall start at once in search of her, and learn the secret,--the mystery of her life.

She _has_ acted 'queer,' I freely admit it, but I, for one, believe she is all right and whatever is troubling her is not her fault or wrong-doing." "Good for you, old man!" cried Philip, "I'm with you in your search.
We'll find her, of course.

First, we must find out where she went." This statement was so obvious and uttered so earnestly that Patty laughed.
"True, Mr.Sherlock Holmes," she said.

"And just how shall we set about it ?" But Phil didn't laugh,--he answered her question seriously.
"First, Patty, you must question the servants, and see if any one saw her go.

You know, she must have gone early this morning,--she couldn't have gone off in the night." The result of the inquiry was that the cook, who was around early, had seen Azalea start away from the house at about six o'clock.