“I can’t think of any spot we have not searched,” answered Mary Louise, whose eyes were brimming over in sympathy for the sorrowing Ursula.
Josie stood in the middle of the shop and into her eyes came the strange dull look she often had when she was “picking up a scent” as it were.
“Philip missing—also the blue-eyed, yellow-haired doll he admired so much,” Josie muttered.
“Ye-es—an’ I went an’ called him a sissy,” sobbed Ben, who suddenly realized that things looked pretty serious.
“He wouldn’t go out in the cold, hunting his sister or brother, without his overcoat and mittens,” Josie murmured. Then she lost the strange, dull look in her eyes and, giving a short laugh, she snapped: “That kid is in this Higgledy Piggledy Shop!”
“Well, he must have made himself mighty little,” said Mary Louise. “I’m going home and get Danny. He’s working on some blue prints this afternoon. Danny will help us. Irene, if you come now I can take you home. I’ll bring my car up the alley. It is too blizzardy for you to think of going home in your chair.”
Irene could let herself down the little dumb-waiter, converted into an elevator, and when Mary Louise would bring her car close up in the alley the lame girl would by the aid of crutches swing herself from chair to car.
“Oh, thank you, my dear,” replied Irene, “but I can’t think of going until Philip is found. The snow is so dry I am sure I can get my chair through it. You go and get Danny, though. I know he will be helpful.”
At the mention of Irene’s going, Josie walked to the little door which opened on the elevator shaft. As she started to open it Mary Louise called to her:
“Irene is not going yet, Josie!” thinking that Josie was preparing to assist the lame girl.