“Where have you left Polly?” he demanded.
“Left her?” Mrs. Hale’s voice showed her astonishment. “Nowhere; Polly has not been with us.”
“Not with you?” Her brother-in-law stared at her. “Didn’t she dine with you?”
“She did not,” tartly. “What gave you that impression?”
“Mrs. Davis told me that Polly telephoned she was with you.” Hale turned almost savagely toward Judith. “Where is she?”
“I do not know.” Judith eyed him in wonderment. It was not often that she saw him discomposed in manner. He moved slightly and the light from the limousine’s lamps showed his features more clearly. “Surely, Uncle John, you are not worried about her whereabouts?”
John Hale passed a nervous hand over his chin. “Polly was to dine with me,” he explained. “I waited at her home, and finally her mother returned from dining with a neighbor and gave me Polly’s message. I remembered you were to dine here, so chased you up. You are sure you don’t know where she is?”
“Of course we don’t,” chimed in Mrs. Hale. “Bless me, John, why worry? Polly is quite old enough to take care of herself, and she is not likely to get lost in Washington.”
“Lost? Of course not,” with rough emphasis. “I have a message for Polly which must be delivered. Have you any idea where she is dining, Judith?”
Judith thought a moment before replying. “Possibly she is with the Wards in Chevy Chase,” she suggested. “I recall Polly had a telephone talk with Kate this afternoon.”