“She’s the girl I was telling you about,” Judy said. “She’s here in the hospital, I think. Peter, would you like to rest while I find out if the patient they brought here really is Clarissa? If I speak to the nurse who recognized Irene, I’m sure they’ll let me see her.”
“Is Irene here?” Peter questioned, pain as well as puzzlement in his blue eyes as they searched Judy’s face.
“She was. Oh, Peter! I hope I’m not tiring you, talking so much!” Judy exclaimed. “One of the nurses stopped Irene on the way in and said a patient had been asking for her. We thought of Clarissa right away. You see, if she met with an accident, it would explain her disappearance. I did tell you she vanished, didn’t I? We never saw her leave the theater, but I suppose she could have slipped out during the show and afterwards changed her mind and tried to come back.”
“She could have slipped out with no intention of coming back. I doubt if you’ll find her here in the hospital,” Peter said, “but it will do no harm to try. I can see you’re deep in another mystery. I wish I could help you solve it.”
“You can, Peter. You’ll be well soon,” Judy told him hopefully. “Then we can help each other.”
“I wish you wouldn’t try to help me this time, Angel.” Peter’s voice was grave. “I’m in trouble—serious trouble, and I’d rather you kept out of it.”
CHAPTER XV
The Wrong Girl
Just outside the door to Peter’s room, Judy paused, trying to think. Serious trouble! What did Peter mean? Had the man, Lawson, the wolf in sheep’s clothing, discovered his whereabouts? Would he be waiting for him when he was released from the hospital?
“Oh, please! Keep him safe,” Judy said to the walls which seemed, suddenly, to move dizzily before her eyes. The activities of the hospital day were beginning. Night nurses were going off duty. Day nurses were busy with breakfast trays. Carts were being wheeled—up and down. Up and down. In a moment Judy feared she would find they were being wheeled by golden-haired nurses with identical faces.