“I saw her but didn’t have no talk wid her,” explained the other. “She was all dressed up in a fine dress and had a bundle unde’ her arm. I reckoned she was comin’ down to visit us, but she done go off through de woods. Why you ask, Honey? She ain’t lost, am she?”
“She didn’t come back for dinner,” answered Mary Louise. “So Hannah and I were worried.”
Mrs. Jones rolled her eyes.
“Runned away, I reckon. Miz Grant didn’t treat her good.”
“But Miss Grant isn’t there—she’s in the hospital.”
“You don’t say!”
“Yes, and I wanted to take Elsie home with me while she was away. So you wouldn’t think she’d want to run away now.”
“No, you wouldn’t. Not when she’s got a nice friend like you, Honey. Mebbe she was kidnaped.”
“Nobody would want to kidnap Elsie Grant. She’s too poor—and her aunt would never pay ransom money.”
Mrs. Jones chuckled.