My mummer went over to see if she could do anything and see how she took it." "When was she lost ?" gasped Maria.

She was shaking from head to foot.
"Your step-mother went down to the store, and when she got back the baby was gone.

Josephine said she hadn't seen her after you had started for Wardway.

She took her doll with her." "Where ?" gasped Maria.
"Nobody knows where," said Gladys, severely, although the tears were streaming down her own grimy cheeks.

"She wouldn't be lost, would she, if folks knew where she was?
Nothin' ain't never lost when you know where it is unless you drop it down a well, and you 'ain't got no well, have you, Maria Edgham ?" "No," said Maria.