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Why, isnt that funny? said Dot to Tess. If he was a kidnapper, he looked just like the laundryman.
Who did? demanded the amazed Theresa.
The man who took the basket and stole Bubby Creamer.
What ever are you saying, Dot Kenway?
So Dot told her all that she had seen of the strange transaction.
Why, that was the laundryman, of course! declared Tess. The baby is not stolen at all at least he never meant to take it. I know the laundryman, and hes got seven children of his own. I dont believe hed steal another.
The whole neighborhood was aroused. Agnes ran out into the yard to learn what the trouble was, and Tess and Dot, with great verbosity, related their version of the occurrence.
Oh, children! we must tell Mrs. Creamer, Agnes said. Of course the laundryman wouldnt have stolen the baby! He thought the basket held the wash and had been put out there for him.
She ran across the yard and swarmed over the fence into the Creamers premises like a boy. Flying up to the group of lamenting women on the porch, she exploded her information among them like a bomb.
Telephone to the laundry and find out if the man has got there yet, suggested one woman.
But Agnes knew that Mrs. Creamers was one of the first places at which the laundryman stopped. He did not get back to the laundry until near noon.
Suddenly an automobile coming up Main Street attracted the Corner House girls attention. She recognized the driver of the car, and ran out into the street, calling to him to stop.
Oh, Joe Eldred! Wait! Wait!
Joe was a boy somewhat older than Neale ONeil, but one of the latters closest friends. He was driving his fathers car, having obtained a license only the month before.
Joe! Wait! Agnes repeated, waving her mittened hand to him.
Hullo! Whose old cat is dead? was his reply.
Oh, Joe! such a dreadful thing has happened, Agnes said breathlessly. Bubby Creamer has gone off with Mr. Billy Quirk, the laundryman, and his mothers worried to death.
Whew! thats some kid! exclaimed Joe. Didnt know he could walk yet.
He cant, silly! returned Agnes, exasperated. Listen! and she told the boy how the wonder had occurred. You know, Mr. Billy Quirk drives away out High Street to collect laundry. Wont you drive out that way and see if hes got poor little Bubby in his wagon?
Sure! cried Joe. Hop in!
But but I didnt think of going.
Say! You dont suppose Id take a live baby aboard this car all alone? gasped Joe. I guess not!
Oh, Ill go! agreed Agnes, and immediately slipped into the seat beside him. Do hurry do! Mrs. Creamer is almost crazy.
Joes engine had been running all the time, and in a minute they rounded the corner into High Street.
Neale got back yet? asked Joe, slipping the clutch into high speed.
Oh oh! gasped Agnes, as the car shot forward with suddenly increased swiftness. How how did you know he had gone away?
Saw him off Christmas morning.
Oh, Joe Eldred! did you know Neale was going?
Why, not till he went, admitted the boy. I was running down to the railroad station to meet my married sister and her kids they were coming over for Christmas dinner and I saw Neale lugging his satchel and legging it for the station. That bag weighed a ton, so I took him in.
Where did he say he was going? Agnes asked eagerly.
He didnt say. Dont you know?
If I did I wouldnt ask you, snapped Agnes. Mean old thing!
Hul-lo ! ejaculated Joe. Whos mean?
Not you, Joe, the girl said sweetly. But that Neale ONeil. He went off without saying a word to any of us.
Close mouthed as an oyster, Neale is. But I asked him what was in the bag, and what d you spose he said?
I dont know, returned the girl, idly.
He said: Either a hundred thousand dollars or nothing. Now! what do you know about that? demanded Joe, chuckling.
What! gasped Agnes, sitting straight up and staring at her companion.
I
guess if hed been lugging such a fortune around it would have been heavy, added Joe, with laughter.
Agnes was silenced. For once the impulsive Corner House girl was circumspect. Neales answer to Joe could mean but one thing. Neale must have carried away with him the old album she had found in the garret of the Corner House.
Goodness gracious! thought Agnes, feeling a queer faintness within. It cant be that Neale ONeil really believes that money and the bonds are good! That is too ridiculous! But, if not, what has he carried the book away with him for?
He was going to show the bonds to somebody, he said. He went off in too great a hurry to do that. And did he take the book because the contents might be valuable and he was afraid to leave it behind him?
I never did hear of such a funny mix-up, concluded Agnes, still in her own mind. And Ruth acts so strangely about it, too. She looked at the book first. Can it be possible that she thinks that old play money is real? Suppose some of it is good just some of it?
Agnes had begun to worry herself now about the old album and its contents. The mystery of it quite overshadowed in her mind the matter of the missing baby.