Maynard stared at the empty stall for a good long minute, as if willing the horse to reappear.
He gritted his teeth in vexation. Mischievous students again. Perhaps they were responsible for the note after all. But how were the two connected?
He had just awoken the stable hand and sent him off in search of the horse when he saw the Willow Cottage matron huffing down the path, bed-cap still clapped to her head, a shawl wrapped around her nightgown.
“Mrs. Hitchcock, what on earth are you doing out at this hour?” Maynard asked.
“Have you seen ’em?” she asked breathlessly.
“Seen whom?” Maynard asked.
“Miss Crandall and Miss Wells. They’re not in their rooms. A critter yowling outside woke me. I checked all the girls’ bedrooms since I was up. That’s when I seen they were gone.”
“Gone? For how long?” Why did he inevitably hear the name Miss Wells whenever there was trouble?
Ruby sucked in her lip as she thought. “They was goin’ together to a dance or such-like. Left here just at lights out. I went to bed. Miss Crandall’s ball gown is on her bed now, so she must ’a been back, but there’s no sign that Miss Wells came back at all.”
Maynard clenched his jaw. A dance. That was too much of a coincidence for his liking. And he didn’t like what he was thinking now. “Chestnut’s gone.”
Ruby’s eyes widened. “He’s always been a favorite o’ Miss Crandall’s. Ya think she took ’im?”
Maynard was sure of it, but there wasn’t time to explain. “I think I know where they are, but I need your help. Wake up President Langdon, and tell him what’s happened—”
“Ooh, Mr. Maynard, they’ll get in trouble, for sure!” Ruby protested.
“They’re already in trouble,” Maynard growled. Blast the woman. He’d never met a female yet who simply followed instructions without arguing over them first. “Tell President Langdon to telephone the police.” Thank goodness the school had put in a telephone line last year. It would save time. “Have them meet me at my house in Cottage Grove. He knows the address.”
“But he’ll ask me why!” Ruby said. “What shall I tell him?”
“Tell him there’s trouble. I haven’t figured it out yet, but he’ll trust my judgment,” Maynard said. Without another word, he ran back into the stable to harness Ransom.