Aunt Jane's Nieces on the Ranch

id, for there were no men among the house servants, and as Loui

ers to bring t

started out to see why her order was not obeyed.

not here, se?

Inez to fet

, se?ora," ret

Then wher

e not her

the statement. The young mother bent over the crib, the covers of which were th

ouise, despairingly; "sh

stracted tone. "What does it m

der and Uncle John, who had followe

ng to worry about. Your two nurses have p

ight?" exclaimed L

they may have been delay

rows chill at

y-cab!" added Arthur,

r's eyes and their faces grew rigid and white

ses, both devoted to little Jane, would not a

e, then?" de

, entering the room with Beth to see w

falling into a chair promptly

Then she put down her hand and felt of the bedding. It ha

g to appear calm, "let us investigate this matter sensibly. Ba

servants," s

m light stood big Bulwer Runyon, and with him little Rudolph and hi

arked Mrs. Hahn, in a voice that trembled with agitatio

urned to

ere," he commanded. "Eve

re were five women-some old and some young, but all Mexicans-and a little withered Chinaman

about two o'clock, as if for a walk. She did not notice which way the nurse went nor whether she returned. Perhaps she wore a cloa

rt, in a despondent attitude, at about half past two. Yes; it might have been a little earlier; it was hard t

her in from her ride at noon. Then it was Miss Travers who had tak

hen at half past twelve, but that neither she nor Inez had joined the other servants at luncheon. This last was not an unus

Mexican quarters," exclaimed

olunteered to investigate the qu

Dolph, on the way. "The baby and her nurses can

returned Arthur, "but there's certainly som

us when we discover t

were in the huts and old Bella listened to Arthur's frantic questi

Mees Jane here for little time-not lon

, "I see that other-the American nurs

anded Bella sharply, as

s the calm reply. "Inez see her, too

rthur, and they all pointed to

that both the nurses were in the house afterwar

old Miguel. The shadow was deep beneath the trees bu

baby?" demanded

earer, putting his face close to

You ask fo

uick, do you kno

said Miguel, passing a hand

ph. "She is gone, and bo

tupidly. "Ah; then she have carried

should she do that?" as

but I tell her no. I say better not. But Inez hate thees girl for taking Mee

ehend this strange informat

en the baby? You don

can gave him

Meest

now where In

Meest

r nurse-the A

Meest

, leaving the old Mexican stan