CHAPTER VIII
MISSING!
Elise gave one glance at Patty's white, scared face and one glanceAt Nurse Winnie's red, frightened face, and then she herself beganTo scream.
"Stop that, Elise!" Patty cried, "it's bad enough to have my babykidnapped, without your yelling like a Comanche! Hush, I tell you!"
But Elise wouldn't, or couldn't hush. The word "kidnapped" upset anycomposure she may have had left, and she burst into hysterical sobbing.
"Of course," she said brokenly, between sobs, "she's kidnapped! You andBill are so--so wealthy and grand--she's just the child the kidnapperswould pick out for ransom--and--"
"Don't--don't, Elise," begged Patty, her voice shaking; "I don't believeshe's kidnapped at all. It's far more likely Azalea took her out for aride or something. She's crazy over the baby and she always wants tohave her to herself, but, she says, Winnie won't let her."
"And indeed not!" spoke up the nurse. "Miss Thorpe,--she tosses thechild about in a way that'd fair curdle your blood! That she does!"
"That's true," said Patty. "You see, Bill pitches baby around just as helikes, and so Azalea thinks she may do the same."
"Then she did do that,--and she dropped her,--and maybe killed her!"
Elise voiced her new theory with a fresh burst of grief, and the ideastruck a chill to Patty's heart. She took no stock in the kidnappingtheory, for Winnie had left the child with Azalea, who would have foughtoff a horde of marauders before she let them carry off the little one.No, whatever had happened was doubtless Azalea's doing. But Elise'snotion of an accident to Fleurette might come somewhere near the truth.
"Of course that's it," Elise went on, excitedly. "The idea of a girlthrowing a baby about! What did she do, Winnie? I mean did she let goof her?"
"Oh, yes, ma'am! She often would throw Fleurette clear up in the airand catch her as she came down."
"She _is_ athletic," conceded Patty. "Over at the Gales' gymnasium shedoes all sorts of stunts. But I don't want her doing them with my baby!"she broke down, and cried piteously.
"Sometimes," vouchsafed Winnie, "Miss Azalea would toss the baby intothe bassinette, instead of laying her down. She always pitched herstraight in,--and baby liked it! You see, Miss Thorpe was very gentlewith the child, and never missed her aim. But I was fair frightened towatch her."
"You ought not to have allowed it, Winnie," Patty said, severely. "Whydidn't you tell me, if you couldn't make Miss Thorpe stop it?"
"Miss Thorpe told me you wanted her to do it, ma'am. She said itwas good exercise for the child, and,--you know her father doesit,--and,--begging your pardon,--Miss Thorpe is even more skilfulthan Mr. Farnsworth."
"Well,--it's his baby!" defended Patty. "Oh, Winnie, suppose an accidentdid happen,--and Miss Thorpe hurt Fleurette in some dreadful way,--and--"
"And ran away, in sheer fright!" suggested Elise.
"No: she'd be more likely to run to the doctor's. Our doctor lives nearhere. I'm going to telephone him--I'm 'most sure Azalea would do that."
Doctor Marsh was not in, but his office boy said he had not had any callfrom Azalea by telephone or in person.
Patty was quite calm now. Her efficient self had risen to the emergencyand she was quickly considering what was best to do.
"I'm going to telephone Bill," she said, as if thinking aloud,--"butfirst, I'm going to call up the Gales, and see if Zaly could have takenFleurette over there. You know Azalea is utterly lawless,--it'simpossible to imagine what she will do. Oh, Elise, you've no idea whatwe go through with that girl! She is a terror! And yet,--well, there issomething about her I can't help liking. For one thing, she's so fond ofFleurette. If she has hurt her,--well, Azalea would just about killherself!"
A telephone call to the Gales' produced no information as to thewhereabouts of Azalea or the baby. Betty replied that she hadn't seenany one from Wistaria Porch that day, and was thinking of coming over tocall.
"Don't come just now," said Patty, half-absently, and then she hung upthe receiver without further words.
"Well, I think I'll have to call up Bill," she said, at last. "You see,he's fearfully busy today, with a specially important matter, and heprobably won't be in his own office, anyway. And I hate to intrude ona directors' meeting,--that is, if there's no necessity. And yet,--itseems as if I must!"
"Oh, do," cried Elise; "you really must, Patty! Why, Bill would reproachyou if you didn't."
So Patty called Farnsworth's office. Bill's business consisted of variedinterests. He was a consulting engineer, he was a mining expert, and hewas still connected with government work. So, frequently, he could notbe found in his office, though he usually left word where Patty couldget in touch with him.
But in this instance it was not so. The confidential secretary gavePatty the address Farnsworth had left with him, but when she called thathe had already gone from there.
With long-suffering patience, Patty called number after number, hopingto find Farnsworth at some of the likely places she could think of.
But number after number brought no results,--and Patty turned from thetelephone in despair.
"Well, Elise," she said, forlornly, "you might as well go to your room,and get your hat off. Come on, I'll go with you,--and I may think ofsomething else to do about Baby. For the present I seem to be at mywits' end."
Of course, in the meantime the nurse and the other servants had searchedthe house and grounds,--but there was really no chance of findingFleurette that way.
It was all too certain that Azalea had taken her away somewhere. And itmight be all right,--it might be that Azalea had merely taken the childout for a walk. She had been known to do this,--but never before withoutPatty's sanction. Of late, though, Patty had objected to it because shefeared that Azalea might not return quickly enough. Twice she had beengone for two or three hours, and though the baby seemed all right, Pattydidn't approve of the performance.
"That's it," she summed up, after telling Elise of this; "you see, Ihaven't approved of such long absences and so Zaly just walked off. Ofcourse, she sent Winnie down for the food, in order to get a chance toput on Baby's things, and depart unseen."
"But she told the nurse _you_ ordered the food prepared."
"Yes. I may as well own up, Elise, that Azalea is not strictlytruthful."
"Why do you have her around? I think she's horrid!"
"Well, you see, _I_ got her here. To be sure, she is Little Billee'scousin,--that is, second or third cousin,--once or twice removed--"
"I wish she was removed from here,--once, twice and all the time!"declared Elise. "Bill had no business to inflict her on you!"
"He didn't. He fairly begged me not to invite her here. But I insistedon it. You see, we neither of us had any idea of what she was like. Billhadn't seen her since she was a baby, and she was different then!"
"I s'pose so! Well, having found out how 'different' she is now, whydon't you send her home?"
"Oh, I can't. And, to tell you the truth, Elise, I want to help thegirl. She's ignorant and inexperienced, but she has a sort of nativequickness and wit, and I feel sure if I could teach her for a while,she could learn to be one of us,--and in time become a fine woman."
"Oh, you philanthropist! And meantime she has run off with your baby!"
"The baby carriage is gone, Mrs. Farnsworth," said Winnie, appearingsuddenly. "So I expect Miss Thorpe took baby in that."
"Yes, probably," said Patty, despairingly. "Oh, Elise, this suspense isdriving me crazy! If I knew that Zaly had her,--and if I knew nothinghad happened, I'd feel _so_ relieved. But suppose she did breakFleurette's little arm or leg--"
"Or back!" put in Elise; "you must _not_ let her pitch the baby around!It's criminal!"
"But you don't know how deft she is. Why, she's almost a contortionistherself. She can turn handsprings and--"
"I don't care if she's the greatest acrobat the world ever saw! There's_always_ chance of an accident! And with a baby, you _never_ know.Suppose Fleurette squirmed out
of her grasp, just as she--"
"Oh, hush! Elise, you drive me distracted! It _can't_ be anything likethat!"
"Yes, it can! I hope it isn't, but do let this be a lesson to you,Patty! Don't ever allow that girl to see the baby again,--much lesstouch her! I think you and Bill must have taken leave of your senses togive her such freedom! Why, you don't deserve to have that heavenlybaby!"
"That's so, Elise, I don't!" and Patty broke into a flood of tears. "Mylittle flower! My precious own baby! How could I ever let Azalea touchher? But, Elise, Zaly loves her as much as we do."
"That may be,--and of course, she wouldn't harm the child wilfully. But,as I said, accidents will happen,--and if it's Bill's fault, why,--ofcourse, it's his own child,--and that's different. But Azalea has nobusiness to take chances with other people's children."
"I know it, and if she only brings her back this time in safety,--I'llnever let her see Fleurette alone again!"
All that afternoon Patty suffered agonies of suspense. Now she would cryuncontrollably,--and again, she would sit, still and dry-eyed, waitingfor some sound of Azalea's arrival.
But no rolling wheels of the baby coach greeted her ears, nor any littlecrowing notes of glee from her baby's lips.
Several times she tried again to reach Farnsworth by telephone,--butalways unsuccessfully.
At last the long hours wore away, and Farnsworth came home.
Patty flew to greet him, and was instantly wrapped in his big embrace.
"Well, Patty-_maman_," he said, as he kissed her, "how's things today?I had to go over to Philadelphia, on a flying trip,--wish I could haveflown, literally,--and hadn't even time to let you know. Then, Rollinstold me you had called up several times,--so I skittled home to see whatit's all about."
His big, cheery voice comforted Patty, and her trouble suddenly seemedeasier to bear, with his help near.
"Oh, Little Billee," she cried, "Azalea has run off with Fleurette."
"Good gracious, you don't say! But how much better to have Zaly do thekidnapping than some professional abductors! Hello, Elise, glad to seeyou! When did you arrive? This morning?"
"No; this afternoon. But, Bill, this matter is serious. Azalea took thebaby away, on the sly."
"That's like her! Azalea has sly ways. And more than that,--she hasqueer ways! It won't do, Patty, there's something wrong,--verywrong,--about the girl. Did she get a letter to-day?"
"No; not this morning. I forgot to look this afternoon."
"What do you mean?" asked Elise, her curiosity aroused. "Do you keep tabon her letters, Patty?"
"Yes; I'm ordered to by my lord and master. He thinks--"
"Never mind, dear, drop the subject now. I've a good reason, Elise, forwatching the letters,--not mere idle curiosity. Now, Patty, for details.What do you mean by taking the baby on the sly!"
So Patty told him how Azalea had ordered the baby's food prepared,saying Patty has asked her to do so.
"H'm, h'm,--looks bad. But don't worry, little mother, I'm sure nothinghas happened to our Little Flower,--I mean nothing of an accidentalnature. Azalea is exceedingly fond of the baby, and I can easily imagineher wanting to take her for a ride this beautiful afternoon. It'sperfectly wonderful out! There's a soft breeze and the air isdelightful--"
"But why didn't she ask me?" cried Patty.
"Afraid you'd say no!" and Farnsworth smiled. "You know, you've not beenoverly gracious of late about Azalea taking baby out."
"I know it, but I had my own reasons."
"And quite right you should have. But, don't worry, I'm sure the twowanderers will turn up all right."
Farnsworth's hearty assurance went far to relieve Patty's fears and whenElise suggested a bad fall, he only laughed, and said,
"No-sir-ee! Zaly is a terror, and a trial in lots of ways, but if shehad let that child fall, she would have called Patty and Winnie and thewhole household for help, and would have run for the doctor herself! Shenever would have run away! Not Azalea! She's no coward,--whatever otherunpleasant traits she may possess."
"That's so," agreed Patty; "and she truly loves the baby. No, Elise,nothing like that happened,--I'm sure. I see it as Bill does, now. It_is_ a heavenly day,--and Zaly felt pretty sure I wouldn't let her takeBaby out by herself, without the nurse,--and she does love to dothat,--and so she sneaked off, and made up that yarn about the food inorder to get Fleurette's hat and coat on! Oh, she's a manoeuvrer!"
"Well, I'm glad you both feel that way about it," said Elise; "of courseyou know the girl better than I do,--as I've never even seen her! but ifshe's such a strong-arm, I think I'm rather afraid of her!"
"Oh, I imagine you can hold your own against her!" laughed Patty, happynow, since Bill's reassurance of her darling's safety. "All the same, Iwish Zaly would come home! It's after six! Come on, Elise, let's dressfor dinner, and then that will be done."
They went to their rooms, and soon Patty was all dressed and hadreturned to her post of vantage on the wistaria porch, to look for thereturn of the lost ones. And at last, through the gathering dusk, shesaw a baby carriage being propelled along the roadway.
"Here we are!" cried a voice, which Azalea tried hard to make casual,but which showed in its quality a trace of apprehension.
"Oh!" Patty cried, and without another word flew down the steps, andfairly grabbed her baby.
The child was asleep, but Patty lifted her from the pillows and gazedinto the little face. Apparently there was nothing wrong, but thegolden head cuddled down on Patty's shoulder and the baby slept on.
"She's tired," vouchsafed Azalea, "but she's all right."
"Where have you been?" asked Farnsworth sternly, as he came out of thefront door.
"Just for a walk," said Azalea, trying to speak pertly, but quailingbefore the accusing blue eyes fixed upon her.
Patty said no word to the girl, but holding Fleurette close, went atonce to the nursery with her.
"She's all right, Winnie, isn't she?" the mother asked, anxiously.
"Yes, ma'am,--I think so,--but she's a little too droopy for meresleepiness."
"Droopy! what do you mean?"
"It may be nothing,--Mrs. Farnsworth,--it may be only that she's tiredout and very sleepy,--but she acts a mite as if she'd been--"
"Been what? Speak out, Winnie! What do you mean?"
"Well,--she acts to me like a baby that's had something soothing--somedrops, you know."
"Something to make her sleep?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Oh, nonsense! Miss Thorpe couldn't give her anything like that! And whywould she? Don't you make any mistake, Winnie, Miss Thorpe adores thisbaby!"
"I know it, she does, Mrs. Farnsworth, but all the same,--look at thoseeyes, now."
Patty looked, but it seemed to her that the blue eyes drooped fromnatural weariness, and assuring herself that no bones were broken orout of place, she drew a long sigh of relief and told Winnie to putFleurette to bed as usual.
The nurse shook her head sagely, but said no more of her fears.
Patty returned to the porch where Farnsworth was still talking toAzalea. Apparently he had scolded her sharply, for she was crying, andthat with Azalea Thorpe was a most unusual performance. She usuallyresented reproof and talked back in no mild-mannered way. But now shewas subdued and even frightened of demeanour, and Patty knew that Billhad done all that was necessary and further reproaches from her were notneeded.
"And another thing," Farnsworth was saying, "I want to know why you havehad no letters from your father since I asked to see one,--that was twoor three weeks ago!"
"I have had one," Azalea answered, sullenly, "I had one this morning."
"Let me see it," demanded Bill, and Azalea went up to her own room andreturned with the letter.
There was no envelope on it, and Farnsworth opened the folded sheet andread:
MY DEAR CHILD:
I received your last letter and I am very glad you are having such anice time. It must be very pleasant at the grand house where you
arestaying,--and I suppose you are getting grand too. I am very lonesomewithout you, but I am willing, for I want you to have a good time andget improvement and all that. Remember me kindly to Cousin William andhis wife. I like to hear you tell about the baby. She must be a finechild. I am well, and I hope you are, too. With much affection, fromyour loving
FATHER.
"Where's the envelope?" asked Farnsworth, as he raised an unsmiling faceto Azalea.
"I tore it up."
"Why?"
"I always do,--I never save envelopes. It was just a plain one."
"Address typewritten?"
"Yes."
"All right, Zaly. Here's your letter," and he handed it back to her.
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