“It seems strange,” went on King somberly. “I’ve tried every way I know how to discover her whereabouts, and can’t. I sent to the Grandoken’s for her, but she was gone.”
“You still care for her then?” queried Molly dully.
“Yes. I know you dislike the poor child, but I thought if you knew that I—well, I really love her, you might help me, Molly.”
It was a bitter harvest to reap after all these weeks of waiting—his telling her he loved another woman—and as his voice rang with devotion for Jinnie Grandoken, Molly restrained herself with difficulty. She dared not lose her temper, as she had several times before under like conditions. With her hands folded gracefully in her lap, she replied:
“If I could help you, Theo, I would; but if Mrs. Grandoken doesn’t know where her own niece is, how should I know?”
“You’re so clever,” sighed Theodore, “I imagined you might be able to discover something where a woman like Mrs. Grandoken would fail. She’s got a young child, I hear.” 301
“What do you suggest?” inquired Molly presently.
“I want to find out quickly where she’s gone,” the sick man said bluntly.
“You want to see her?” demanded Molly.
Theodore nodded.