众人回到农场,却发现宝贝简不见了,露易丝和大家都很着急,他们到处寻找……
The Weldons and their guests were greeted at their door by a maid,for there were no men among the house servants,and as Louise ushered the party into the living room she said to the girl:
"Ask Miss Travers to bring the baby here."
The maid departed and was gone so long that Louise started out to see why her order was not obeyed.She met the woman coming back with a puzzled face.
"Mees Traver not here,se?ora,"she said.
"Then tell Inez to fetch the baby."
"Inez not here,se?ora,"returned the woman."Indeed !Then where is baby?""Mees Jane not here,se?ora."Louise rushed to the nursery,followed by Arthur,whose quick ears had overheard the statement.The young mother bent over the crib,the covers of which were thrown back as if the infant had been quickly caught up—perhaps from a sound sleep.
"Good gracious!"cried Louise,despairingly;"she'sgone—my baby's gone!""Gone?"echoed Arthur,in a distracted tone."What does it mean,Louise?Where can she be?"A gentle hand was laid on his shoulder and Uncle John,who had followed them to the room,said soothingly:
"Don't get excited,my boy;there's nothing to worry about.Your two nurses have probably taken little Jane out for aride.""At this time of night?"exclaimed Louise."Impossible !""It is merely twilight;they may have been delayed,"replied Mr.Merrick.
"But the air grows chill at this hour,and—"
"And there is the baby—cab!"added Arthur,pointing to a corner.
Louise and her husband looked into one another's eyes and their faces grew rigid and white.Uncle John,noting their terror,spoke again.
"This is absurd,"said he."Two competent nurses,both devoted to little Jane,would not allow the baby to come to harm,I assure you.""Where is she,then?"demanded Arthur.
"Hello;what's up?"called Patsy Doyle,entering the room with Beth to see what was keeping them from their guests.
"Baby's gone!"wailed Louise,falling into a chairpromptly to indulge in a ?ood of tears.
"Gone?Nonsense,"said Beth,gazing into the empty cradle.Then she put down her hand and felt of the bedding.It had no warmth.Evidently the child had been removed long ago.
"Before we give way to hysterics,"advised Uncle John,striving to appear calm,"let us investigate this matter sensibly.Babies don't disappear mysteriously,in these days,I assureyou.""Question the servants,"suggested Patsy.
"That's the idea,"squeaked a high tenor voice,and there in the dim light stood big Bulwer Runyon,and with him little Rudolph and his wife Helen,all exhibiting astonished and disturbed countenances.
"I—I can't see any reason for worry,Louise,dear,"remarked Mrs.Hahn,in a voice that trembled with agitation."Not a soul on earth would harm that precious Jane."Arthur turned to the maid.
"Send all the servants here,"he commanded."Every one of them,mind you !"Presently they congregateda in the roomy nursery,which had now been brilliantly lighted.There were five women—some old and some young,but all Mexicans—and a little withered Chinaman named Sing Fing,whose age was uncertain and whose yellow face seemed incapable of expression.
Uncle John,assisted at times by Rudolph and Arthur,did the questioning.Marcia had seen Miss Travers leave the house,alone,at 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 cloak;Marcia could not tell.The day was warm;doubtless Miss Travers had no wraps at all.A hat?Oh,no.She would have noticed a hat.
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