“All right! Now tell me why anybody would want Philip—except of course that he is a lovely child. But people don’t steal boys just because they are charming.”
“Don’t they? Well, Josie, I don’t know what they would get but charm. You know how poor I am.”
“Well, I can’t help feeling there is something besides charm in this transaction. Now, Ursula, give me the names and addresses of any friends or connections you have in Louisville. I want Mr. Cheatham’s full name and his address and also what hospital had the honor of graduating Miss Fitchet as a nurse. Write all your information in this little book. Now, my dear girl, you must spunk up all you can. I know it is hard, but Philip is going to be found, and that within a few days or maybe hours. You must promise me something: it makes no difference what communication you receive from these persons who have seen fit to carry off our Philip, you will call up Captain Lonsdale and tell him all about it. It will be a plain case of blackmail. If they tell you to meet them in a quiet spot with all of your diamonds in a black bag, don’t you do it. You let the chief of police do your meeting.”
“But Josie, where will you be that you give me all these directions?”
“Me? I’m going to take the next train for Louisville. I feel it in my bones that I can learn something to my advantage there. I’ll learn the motives and work from that.”
“Oh, let me go too!” begged Ursula. Josie considered a moment. Then she said:
“I really think it would be wiser for you to stay right where you are. You see Irene and her aunt and uncle will be good to you and little Ben and Mary Louise will be here, and Elizabeth Wright. Philip may be brought back any minute, and you certainly don’t want to be away from home when they bring him back.”
“No, I just had a feeling maybe he might be in Louisville and I could get him sooner if I went there,” sighed the poor girl, who was trying desperately to keep back the tears that would course down her pale cheeks.
Josie carried away a sad picture of her friend. She left the Dorfield end in the hands of Bob Dulaney, who was to inform the police of the kidnapping and also keep busy on his own account, following up every clue that might present itself.
“Good-bye, Bob!” called Josie as she jumped aboard the train. “Keep me informed of the case and I’ll do the same with you.”