The story begins in New York City with four inseparable friends—Sylvia, Rose, Alice, and Hazel—who formed the Nowadays Club while at a fashionable boarding school. These stylish and vivacious young women are preparing for a summer tour of the Adirondack Mountains, accompanied by the well-beloved chaperon Mrs. Brownley. However, news arrives that Sylvia's brother Roy has suffered a mental and physical breakdown from overwork while trying to solve a valuable chemical formula for dyeing silk. Roy is resting at a camp near Saranac Lake, which prompts the girls to choose the Adirondacks as their primary destination so they can check on his recovery.
After making stops in Syracuse and Old Forge, where they enjoy dancing, golfing, and canoeing—while also weathering the accidental loss and recovery of Alice's emerald ring and a sudden canoe upset—the girls finally make their way toward Raquette Lake and eventually Saranac. Along the way, they share adventures with charming companions, including a newlywed couple and four canoeing young men who later appear at a masked dance. Sylvia's anxiety regarding Roy remains a constant undercurrent, fueled by occasional anxious telegrams.
Upon reaching the Saranac region, the party learns that Roy has suddenly slipped away from his camp in a state of delirium and is now missing in the vast forest. Teaming up with a local guide named Pete, Roy's friend Harry Montray, and Professor Russman, the girls join a widespread search party. They tramp through lonely forest trails, face the emotional strain of uncertainty, and confront the harsh realities of the wilderness.
As the search intensifies through conch-horn signals and systematic trail-scouring, the friends lean on one another for strength. They strive to keep their spirits high, vowing to greet Roy with absolute normality if he is found. The narrative culminates in a tense atmosphere of hope and worry, highlighting the resilience of the Nowadays Girls as they navigate a true test of character far away from civilization.
