"I'll see her," repeated Ebenezer, not changing the tone of his voice.
Without another word, Madelene whirled and went toward the stairs, the church elder following his sister with slow tread.
Helen turned her tired, white face to the visitors. At the sight of her husband she sat up straight.
"Where's Elsie?" the man shouted harshly from the door.
Something had happened to her little girl! Her husband was asking for the child! Mrs. Waldstricker jumped out of bed quickly.
"I haven't seen her," she answered. "Isn't she home?"
Then Waldstricker believed. Elsie had disappeared. She was not with her mother!
"She's gone," was all he said, and, wheeling, went out.
Not one of the servants could tell Madelene or the distracted mother any more than they had told the father.