“Oh, lady!” exclaimed Bella. “Send me to New York to Mrs. Grubson’s. I bet she’d keep me till pa opens somewhere in a good show.”
But Ruth shook her head. She had her doubts about the wisdom of the child’s being in such a place as Mrs. Grubson’s boarding house, no matter how kindly disposed that woman might be.
“Bella should stay near here,” Ruth said firmly, “as long as we cannot communicate with Mr. Pike at once.”
“Let’s write a notice for one of the theatrical papers,” suggested Helen eagerly. “You know—‘Montague Fitzmaurice please answer.’ All the actors do it.”
“But pa don’t always have the money to buy the papers,” said Bella, taking the suggestion quite seriously.
“At least, if Bella is in this neighborhood he will know where to find her,” went on Ruth. “Is there nobody you know here, child, whom you would like to stay with till your father returns?”
Bella’s face instantly brightened. Her black eyes flashed.
“Oh, I’d like to stay at the minister’s,” she said.
“At the minister’s?” repeated Ruth. “Why, if he would take you that would be fine. Who is he?”
“The Reverend Driggs,” said Bella.