“Yes, Josie made me promise that I would do that. Why do you think they have taken my little brother, Mr. Dulaney? Do you think there was any motive but simply one to annoy and distress me?”
“I do. People don’t engage in such dangerous crime just to be annoying. Josie is out hunting a motive and I am working with that thought as a basis of investigation too. I don’t know how the police are proceeding. They usually work with a kind of sledge hammer method that hits what gets in its way but doesn’t get into the cracks much, or seek out the hidden things.”
Bob’s visit cheered Ursula. It was a comforting thing to know that something was being done. She felt helpless and useless herself. All she could do was sit by the window in her living room and gaze out on the snow, wondering where her little brother was and if he thought of her and missed her as she did him. She was thankful that the kidnaper had taken his overcoat and warm sweater. At least he would not be cold. She remembered that his shoes had but recently been half soled. His feet would be dry. Whoever stole him did not want him to suffer or he or she would not have taken his clothes. Even his little red mittens and woolen comforter were gone. Perhaps he was being well treated after all. Who could want to be unkind to little Philip? So ran Ursula’s thoughts.
That night Ursula slept. A confidence in the goodness of God enveloped her like a mantle. A strange feeling of peace came over her. Ben noticed it as he kissed her good-night after they had knelt together and prayed.
“Why, Sister, your face looks as if a light was behind it.”
“There is, Ben. It is the light of Hope and Faith. It is wicked of me to be so despondent. I am going to keep on hoping and praying and believing and I am sure our baby will be brought back to us.”
“Oh, Sister, how glad I am! I won’t be ashamed if I go to sleep to-night. Last night I kept pinchin’ myself to keep awake, although I felt all the time that Phil was comin’ back to us.”
“My dear, indeed you must sleep so you will grow big and strong and can take care of little Philip and me,” smiled Ursula.
The morning after Christmas found them much calmer and the confidence of the night before remained with them. Ursula busied herself by cleaning her apartment and darning all the stockings, although she could not help shedding a few tears over the big holes in the knees of Philip’s.
“He got those playin’ bear,” said Ben. “Phil sure does love to play grizzly.”