"You see, Bill pitches baby around just as he likes, and so Azalea thinks she may do the same." "Then she did do that,--and she dropped her,--and maybe killed her!" Elise voiced her new theory with a fresh burst of grief, and the idea struck a chill to Patty's heart.

She took no stock in the kidnapping theory, for Winnie had left the child with Azalea, who would have fought off a horde of marauders before she let them carry off the little one.
No, whatever had happened was doubtless Azalea's doing.

But Elise's notion of an accident to Fleurette might come somewhere near the truth.
"Of course that's it," Elise went on, excitedly.

"The idea of a girl throwing a baby about! What did she do, Winnie?
I mean did she let go of her ?" "Oh, yes, ma'am! She often would throw Fleurette clear up in the air and catch her as she came down." "She _is_ athletic," conceded Patty.

"Over at the Gales' gymnasium she does all sorts of stunts.