Part 25 (1/2)

”Her satchel?”

”Yes. Inie wouldn't take it north herself, but Di had it.”

”Mother,” said Lulu, ”when Di went away just now, was she carrying a satchel?”

”Didn't I just tell you?” Mrs. Bett demanded, aggrieved. ”I said I didn't think Inie--”

”Mother! Which way did she go?”

Monona pointed with her spoon. ”She went that way,” she said. ”I seen her.”

Lulu looked at the clock. For Monona had pointed toward the railway station. The twelve-thirty train, which every one took to the city for shopping, would be just about leaving.

”Monona,” said Lulu, ”don't you go out of the yard while I'm gone.

Mother, you keep her--”

Lulu ran from the house and up the street. She was in her blue cotton dress, her old shoes, she was hatless and without money. When she was still two or three blocks from the station, she heard the twelve-thirty ”pulling out.”

She ran badly, her ankles in their low, loose shoes continually turning, her arms held taut at her sides. So she came down the platform, and to the ticket window. The contained ticket man, wonted to lost trains and perturbed faces, yet actually ceased counting when he saw her:

”Lenny! Did Di Deacon take that train?”

”Sure she did,” said Lenny.

”And Bobby Larkin?” Lulu cared nothing for appearances now.

”He went in on the Local,” said Lenny, and his eyes widened.

”Where?”

”See.” Lenny thought it through. ”Millton,” he said. ”Yes, sure.

Millton. Both of 'em.”

”How long till another train?”

”Well, sir,” said the ticket man, ”you're in luck, if you was goin' too.

Seventeen was late this morning--she'll be along, jerk of a lamb's tail.”

”Then,” said Lulu, ”you got to give me a ticket to Millton, without me paying till after--and you got to lend me two dollars.”

”Sure thing,” said Lenny, with a manner of laying the entire railway system at her feet.

”Seventeen” would rather not have stopped at Warbleton, but Lenny's signal was law on the time card, and the magnificent yellow express slowed down for Lulu. Hatless and in her blue cotton gown, she climbed aboard.

Then her old inefficiency seized upon her. What was she going to do?

Millton! She had been there but once, years ago--how could she ever find anybody? Why had she not stayed in Warbleton and asked the sheriff or somebody--no, not the sheriff. Cornish, perhaps. Oh, and Dwight and Ina were going to be angry now! And Di--little Di. As Lulu thought of her she began to cry. She said to herself that she had taught Di to sew.

In sight of Millton, Lulu was seized with trembling and physical nausea.