“It won’t be mysterious when we discover the reason, you know.”
The men were all at work in the olive groves, but some of the women were in the huts and old Bella listened to Arthur’s frantic questions with blank amazement, as did the others who hastily congregated.
“Thees morn,” said Bella, “Inez bring Mees Jane here for little time—not long time. Then she takes her ’way again.”
“While Inez here,” said another woman, “I see that other—the American nurse—behind hedge, yonder, watching us.”
“How you know that?” demanded Bella sharply, as she turned to the speaker.
“I know because she is stranger,” was the calm reply. “Inez see her, too, an’ that ees why Inez hurry away.”
“Which way did she go?” asked Arthur, and they all pointed to the path that led to the house.
“It doesn’t matter,” suggested Dolph. “We know that both the nurses were in the house afterward. The main point is that the baby is not here.”
As they started to return they came face to face with old Miguel. The shadow was deep beneath the trees but there was no mistaking the Mexican’s snow-white hair.
“Have you seen baby?” demanded Weldon eagerly.