The Jewels of Nebraska, 15 -Engaging Their Ire

“You, girl, you're next. Sit down on the divan.”

She remained on the bench defiant, between several other girls, some around her age, some older.

“Hey there! What's your name? What's this girl's name?”

“The new one? That's Kallah.”

“Kallah, get your fanny on that couch.”

“My name's not Kallah, it's Ruby, and I'll do with my fanny what I please.”

“I don't care if it's Annie Oakley, and your fanny belongs to Brother Tobias, so get up here.” Said Brother Rickenbacher from behind the camera.

“No!” said Ruby.

The man looked exasperated and put his hands on his hips. “Girls.” he said.

The girls on either side of Ruby grabbed her arms and dragged her forward, pulled her dress over her head leaving her in the lacy underthings they had made her put on that morning. She was too surprised to fight back. They dumped her on the dusty couch, a fancy piece that had seen better days in some big house back East.

It was Ruby's first day in the work house. She'd heard it called that since she arrived, but Ruby could tell at the first, from the way the girls wore old lingerie under their dresses and the fact that they came back each day nearly as clean and fresh as they left in the morning, that it was something else entirely. 

Ruby had been left in the upstairs room each day for a week or so until she had gained some weight on her hips and in her chest. That was another clue that the girls weren't sewing dresses or making Teddy bears for poor children in India, as everyone was told.

Finally the tape measure showed some results from the lard and rice mixture they forced her to choke down four times a day and she was sent off with the others on their daily march over the hillside.

The single barn sized building seemed normal enough from a distance, but inside there was no roof, just a floor and four walls. One end of the building was made to look like the inside of a sitting room with oriental rugs on the floor, tapestry on the walls and finer furniture than anywhere else in the the whole compound even if it was old and a bit worn. White bedsheets had been sewn together and draped over boards overhead to keep the light in the 'sitting room' in between a state of sunlight and shade.

“Kallah, get a smile on that face, you look like a sour puss.”

“I'm wearing ridiculous underwear in front of everyone and being held here against my will. Why should I smile? This place is horrible. You people are all crazy. You girls are all like zombies, what the heck is wrong with you.”

“Smile dammit! Do it now! We don't have all day, we just need a simple shot of you for now. Just get it over with.”

“Then take a picture, but I refuse to smile.”

Brother Rickenbacher looked over his shoulder to a dark corner where there at a seated figure leaning on a cane.

“Corrective lacing, two days. That'll squeeze a smile out of her.” Said Brother Tobias with a grin that could be heard from the shadows.

“Two days? But Mr Hagstrom is coming in two days.”

“Then maybe he can get her to smile; two days. I know this girl's type,” he said as if Ruby and the others weren't right there, “You'd better break her now and do it right or she'll infect the others. Lace her up.”

The girls on the benches seemed to get excited. This more than anything made Ruby nervous. Brother Rickenbacher pointed at two of the older girls, which caused the rest to start chanting.

“Lace her, lace her, lace her...”

The girls took something off the wall that looked like some sort of orthopedic device with a mile of string laced through one side and a series of metal buttons on the other. They pulled Ruby up off the couch into a standing position. One girl stood in front of her and grabbed her wrists while the other wrapped the thing around her middle and closed the metal buttons in front. It went from low on her hips to up over her bust.

This isn't so bad Ruby thought. Mama used to talk about wearing these things when she was younger, how she hated them but...

The girl behind Ruby began pulling on the laces. The corset closed around her and began squeezing her waist in.

I can see what Mama was talking about now... “Ooph.” said Ruby quite involuntarily. The girl pulled the laces a second time making the thing even tighter.

“Hey, what's the idea? Stop, it I can't hardly...oomph!”

It tightened again. Ruby's eyes went wide. She realized it was going to get worse.

“Lace her, lace her...”

Between each cinching of her middle, Ruby could feel the girl behind her working the laces on the upper and lower portions of her torso, squeezing her ribcage and her hips before a crescendo with a big pull at the center drawing her further and further into hourglass like rich old ladies still did.

Ruby kept thinking the thing couldn't get any tighter but then the girl would yank on the laces and Ruby would feel the thing close around her. The final pull had the girl place her boot on Ruby's back for leverage and pulled hard with a grunt.

Ruby felt like she would split in two.

The girls all cheered and jeered. Ruby could barely make a squeak.

The laces were brought in front of her and tied in a large bow. The girl in front of her let go of her wrists. Ruby nearly toppled over. She was lightheaded and weak. Each shallow breath she could take was an effort. The two girls guided Ruby back to the wall. She knew she would not be sitting down. Bending at the middle was not possible. She looked down at the lace ends tied before her. She promised herself would loosen them at the first opportunity, when no one was looking.

They dashed her plans by binding her hands behind her. They looped a rope around her spindled waist and attached it to a nail high on the wall like a dog on a leash, not tight, but only allowing her a few inches of travel.

The other girls took turns on the couch having their pictures taken in their underwear, sometimes less, sometimes apart, sometimes together. Ruby could hardly believe the depravity she was seeing, but mostly all she could think about trying to breathe.

It was all clear now. This was no cult, maybe the folks like Caleb and Esther still thought it was, but their religious fever and Caleb's greedy dream of having multiple wives was just bait to bring young women to this place for dirty pictures. Now they were slaves, all three of them. Ruby thought she had it better, not toiling in the hot sun all day, but now she wasn't sure.

“You can't leave!” She grabbed my habit covered arm when I tried to stand up.

“But the nurse just said I have to, visiting hours are over.”

“You can't leave without me.”

Charlotte clung to my arm in desperation.

“Wait a minute, you're sick, I can't take you from your hospital bed.”

“I'm not sick, I was never ill, I was stricken with sadness but you just cured me of that when you said you'd found my baby. The doctors say my womb is making me hysterical, they want to take it out."

“Dear lord! that's horrible", I said, "but remember, I can't be completely sure about your baby till you see it, till you have her in your arms.”

“It doesn't matter,” she said, “you have to take me with you. Tomorrow they will operate on me and as soon as i recover my father is having me sent back to Philadelphia.” Charlotte laughed. “It used to be all I dreamed of, going back, but now... Now, there's my child, now there's... you.”

I was stunned. It was all I had dreamed of; for the beautiful Charlotte to ask me to take her away. To chosen over her wealthy family. I felt fear cloud my joy, though. It was one thing to climb to a rooftop and to dress like a nun and sneak into a hospital, but this was kidnapping, willing though she was, that's how her family would see it and therefore how a judge would.

“I... I'll come back tomorrow. I need time to plan this out.”

“No, it's no good my darling, it has to be now.”

“But...”

“Don't you see? I don't think the nuns loaned you that get-up. They may know it's missing, even now. If we wait...”

I did see. It was all happening so fast. Then I looked at her face, and felt her hands close around my own. I would do anything for her. Nothing was impossible and I was fearless... mostly.

“Sister, sorry, I'm afraid you really have to leave now.” said the nurse as she passed by the room.

“Um yes child... um.” I converted to my ridiculous nun's voice. Charlotte bit her lip to suppress her laughter. I myself heard my voice break and I choked back a chortle. “I just need a moment.”

I closed my eyes, seeing Charlotte's face trying not to laugh would have made it impossible not to laugh myself. Then I had a thought.

“Nurse.” I said.

The nurse came back in. “Yes sister?”

This lady has decided to take confession before her surgery tomorrow. I know that visiting hours are over but certainly I could take her to the chapel and try to catch the Chaplin before he leaves... on a safari.”

"Father Vecci, is going on a safari?"

“Uh why yes of course, they need chaplins too, all those elephants and tigers.”

Charlotte and I made faces at each other.

“Well I supposed they wouldn't blame me for allowing a confession. I'll get a wheel chair.”

It was difficult not to break into a run when we passed the doors of the hospital and headed towards the street. I managed to keep my countenance about me. Charlotte herself had to keep herself from looking around and keep her head hung low like someone ill and forlorn. Once or twice, footfalls in the corridors behind us made us worry the gig was up. It was not much better out on the sidewalk. A nun walking a wheel chair is not nearly as easy to explain away on the street as it is in a hospital.

Our hearts both nearly stopped as we saw a superfluity of nuns headed straight for us. Charlotte gripped the suitcase she held in her lap with white knuckles. They parted for us and nodded as I did. I was about to breath again when I heard it. First a flutter of conversation between them, then it happened.

“Sister? Oh Sister.”

I stopped dead in my tracks. I turned just enough to turn, but stopped short of showing my face through the wings of the habit.

“What is your name?”

“Sister Catherine... Jones of... Cleveland... I'm, uh... new.”

“What's wrong with your voice sister? Let us have a look at you?” Said one of the older nuns in a haughty tone.

I looked down at Charlotte. She angled back up at me carefully. I was ready to make a run for it, wheelchair and all. I could already see how it would end though with a policeman twirling his nightstick at the the end of the block.

I heard someone running behind us. My heart stopped. I turned to see Olaf, the milk boy, running up to the nuns.

“Damn, damn, hell... liquor... pool... Holy crap!” he said dancing around trying to engage their ire.

He was remarkably successful given the chase that followed. He was saved by his ability to dodge carriages and the fact the nuns were only armed with harsh scolding, not rulers or yardsticks.

“I didn't know nuns could run so swiftly.” Charlotte said after we past the policeman calmly with a friendly nod.

“I know, without our young milk boy coming to our aid, they would have caught us for sure. I couldn't run like that in this habit even without the wheelchair.”

“I'm glad poor Olaf got away. It was good of you to bring him.”

“I didn't. He must have followed me.”

I took off my nun's habit as gracefully as possible, which was to say not very graceful at all.

There we stood at the corner of Leavenworth and 24^th Street like two children that had just run away from home and just realized it was real. We were two people who barely knew the other now bound by our crimes, the one we had just committed, and the one we were about to.

“What now darling?” Charlotte said.

“First, we get rid of this wheel chair then we go and get your baby back.”

She took my hand and squeezed it gently.

Continued in Episode 16 here

The Jewels of Nebraska, 14 -William Gets Engaged

It was impossible to know if Kohn's Indian was any better than his English, but the Indians, Navajos, seemed to understand him pretty well. They sat around in a circle discussing unknown matters but with tones of great seriousness. William and Ben were not invited into the circle and almost completely ignored by everyone in the small village. They sat on rocks near where all the horses were tied. A girl who appeared to be a bit younger stared at William with great interest until her mother scolded her and whisked her away.

“So it wasn't the old couple and Ruby that Kohn was tracking after all, it was this group of Indians.” said Ben.

“So how's that gunna help us find Ruby.” William said.

“I don't know.”

After a long time Kohn waved Ben over but held up his hand when William started to get up.

He picked small rocks and tossed at a dry bush a few feet away. He jumped when a hand rested on his shoulder from behind. The hand flew back, but when he turned he could see a face between the horses. It was the girl. She said something he could not understand then retreated slowly between the large animals. He just stared at her. She impatiently motioned for him to follow. He looked around and got up from his rock. He made his way through the forest of horses where he found the girl waiting for him. She wore a cotton dress which seemed odd to him, he would have expected Indians to wear animal skins and beads. Here eye's were big and so dark they almost looked black marbles. She started speaking again, her voice sounded like music though he could not understand a word.

“Why do you sit with the animals like a dog? Everyone is laughing at you.”

“I'm sorry, I don't understand. Do you speak any English?”

“English, no. I know some of your English words but I will look stupid if I try.

“I am William, Will-ee-am.” he pointed to himself. “Will-eeee-aam.”

“Wully eem,” she said.

“William.”

“Nil-Chi-Tsosie” she put her hands to her shoulders.

“Nishlie Tossy?”

“Nil-Chee, Chee T-sosee”

“Nil-Chee-Tosie.”

“Close enough silly boy.”

The girl looked around as if trying to think. She blew air from her lips and gestured to the sky around her. She did this over and over as William scratched his head. She came close and blew on his cheek. He touched the spot. She gestured to the sky again and made a small hole with her fingers. She blew on his cheek again. He blushed at the closeness.

“Oh I get it. Indian names always mean something, and yours is... wind?” William blew with his lips and made like a tree with his arms, blowing in the wind.

Excitedly she knodded and made the small circle with her fingers again and blew lightly on his cheek.

“Wind... little. Little Wind!”

She smiled and laughed a little.

“Nil-Chi-Tsosie!” She blew on his cheek again and made the small symbol with her hand again.

William's tummy turned upside down when she got close. He couldn't help but smile.

Even though you sit with Animals, you are a pretty one I think.” She brushed his sandy hair with the back of her fingers.

William leaned back a bit then let her continue.

“You are different, I can see that. Different from other whites I have seen.”

William thought perhaps he should touch her hair in kind. He reached forward to touch her shining black hair but she stepped back quickly.

“You are more stupid than rude, I think. I forgive the insult,” Small Wind looked around to be sure it was only the horses amongst them, “but only if you promise to marry me.” She took his hand and brought to her hair again. He gently stroked it a few times. He'd never felt anything like it.

“Do you promise to return and marry me one day when I am a woman?” She place her hands on his face and made his head knod.

William just smiled.

“Good. Now there is the engagement gifts, I will give you something and you will give me something Will-ee-am.”

“I wish I could understand you. I heard my name. I hope you said something nice.”

Small wind took a necklace from inside her dress and leaned forward to pull it though her long hair. She placed it on his neck. It was a simple chain of beads on a string. He looked down and touched it. It was warm from her body.

“Now you,” she gestured, “it's your turn to give me an engagement gift.”

Her eyes were on his camera hanging under his arm.

“No, I can't give you my Kodak, there's no more film anyway.” William thought of what he could give her. There were the papers in his suitcase that Ruby had given him to look after. No they seemed important and not of much use to an Indian girl.

“I know!” he said.

He reached in his pocket and pulled out his pocket knife. He unfolded the blade and put it back to show her. He took her hand in his and placed the knife and closed her fingers around it. He gazed for a moment at the lovely color of her skin.

“My Pa gave me this, before he off and got killed in the war.”

I remember giving Billy that knife before I left for the Army. He was so young he couldn't even open it. You might think I'd be upset that he gave it away to an Indian girl he'd know for exactly six minutes and twenty-four seconds, but you forget that I can see his heart and how laughable I know material things to be.

Little Wind smiled. “It's now as if we are married.” She hugged him suddenly and tightly and buried her head in his shoulder. Williams heart did flips as he felt her warmth full against him.

“Tell know one Will-ee-am and remember your promise to me.”

“I wish I had film in my camera, I would take a picture of you and look at it everyday.”

Without warning, she turned and ran back to the village.

“Bye.” he said.

She turned and flashed her dark-eyed smile at him before disappearing between the horses.

“William?” Ben called.

William appeared from the horses

“What in blazes were you doin' in there? Why's your face all red.”

William just blushed deeper.

“Anyway, here's the plan. Kohn's going to ride out with some of these Indians to a place where Ruby might be. He wants me to come along. It seems these folks can't help us much more than showing us this place. They're living off the reservation and don't want to be found here. Now Kohn doesn't want you along and I don't either, you're safe here. Only a handful of these folks speak any English. Do you think you can manage?”

“Yeah, I guess, will you come back here with Ruby?”

“If we find her.”

“How long?”

“Don't know, few days, a week. You'll do fine. You know, they've already given you a name. 'Lin' something.”

The name they had given him was “Lin-Lha-Cha-Eh”. What Ben or William didn't know was that it meant 'Horse Dog'.

I felt ridiculous, utterly and completely ridiculous. Climbing on the roof of that mansion was nothing compared to this. Beyond my humiliation, nun's habits are darned uncomfortable yessir. The thing rubbed against my face and neck something horrible with it's starched cardboard-like edges. How those sister spend a lifetime in these things I'll never comprehend.

It worked remarkably well. It took me all of five minutes as a white man wearing a cooks uniform to get tossed out on my ear, but the egregious sin of stealing a nun's habit off a close line and walking through the hospital corridors, not only as a male but a protestant as well barely got me noticed.

God forgive me.

I thought surely when I spoke to the lady at the front desk that my falsetto voice and masculine face would get at least a funny look. She just smiled and gave me Charlotte's room number without pause.
“Thank you child.” I said. I gave some sort of gesture that was somewhere between

a cross and a blessing. 

I took a deep breath before entering her room, one of the few private rooms I had seen along my way. It was one thing to humiliate oneself like this for a worthy cause, which I would never have considered it without, but to humiliate myself before the woman I loved. I was hardly able to woo her as a waiter, this might just take away any chance I might have had.

When I saw her face all I could think of was her and her anguish, my own embarrassment seemed suddenly insignificant. Though she looked to me as lovely as ever, I could see she was not well. Her face was sallow and gaunt. Deep circles were under her eyes. Her head was turned to window and she did not turn even when I cleared my throat. A nurse passed by the open door. It reminded me not to use my own voice.

“How are you today my child.” I said au-falsetto as I awkwardly pulled up a chair and sat beside her bed. She did not respond or turn away from the window. “Shall we pray together?”

Charlotte turned her eyes downwards as a show of respect but still did not turn back. I looked out the doorway. The was no one there and the hallway seemed quiet. I took her hands in mine and whispered in my own voice. “Charlotte, it's me.” Her head shot towards me in shock. At first trying to comprehend the nun what went from soprano to baritone suddenly. I watched her eyes. I could almost read her thoughts as she took in a vaguely familiar face framed in starched black and white cloth and tried to reconcile the unlikely combination. Then, her eyes brighten with recognition and she squeezed my hands with surprising strength.

“You! It's you! I dreamed you would come, but...”

“Are you okay Miss?” I said. “I am sorry for my appearance I...” a group of people passed the door. “...and in his holy host of gloria deus pachem E pluribus unim...”

Charlotte did the last thing in the world I expected.

She giggled.

Then the giggles broke into laughter. I was at once delighted and horrified.

“Miss Charlotte, please temper yourself. You will give me away. I've already been throwed out of here once posing as a kitchen worker. I might not survive this atrocity from the fourth floor.”

“I can't believe it's you!” she giggled some more. “I hope you weren't harmed.” Her face shifted to concern but she started laughing again.

“Miss please! Am I that comical?”

“I'm sorry, but yes, yes you are!”

I sat up in my chair and release her hands. “Well I don't think you can begin to appreciate what I've been through today to get to you.”

“Darling, my darling,” she said softly and reached for my hands again. “I have not laughed in a very, very long time, the joy of seeing you and the comedy of your attire has brought me a joy I haven't felt in years perhaps.” She giggled some more. “It's been so long since I've laughed at anything, it's quite frankly hard to stop, please, I don't mean to offend, but...” She started laughing harder than ever.

I stopped minding, I stopped feeling sorry for myself, I remember my difficult day was nothing compared to her days and months of sorrow. Besides, she had called me 'darling'. I could have jumped out of the fourth floor window and floated off like a balloon.

“You needn't call me 'miss'.” she said. “You have been kinder to me than anyone I have ever known, including my own family. I am so happy just to see you face... and your silly costume!”

“Prepare to be happier my Charlotte.”

“What?”

“I hasten to say for sure, but I may have found your baby.”

She sat up from the bed and hugged my neck.

“Oh sweet heavens, you have no idea! Oh thank God, Thank you Jesus! And thank you sir, thank you for being my hero."

Her giddy laughter blended with a bizarre mix of tears and sobbing all at once.

A doctor passed by the room and turned to stick his head in the door.

“Um..” I shifted suddenly to my fasletto. “Yes dear child, tell sister Mary aaaalll about it.

Then we'll pray.”

Charlotte's laughter doubled.

The Jewels of Nebraska Episode 13 -Think like a maid

Being that it's been a spell since my last post (I'm starting to talk like my characters) maybe a refresher may be in order in the way of re-reading Episode 12 No? Okay then, carry on...

It was just four hours ago that William was tossing and turning is his bedroll, one side towards the fire then the other all night long. Half of him was always freezing and the other baking. Now it was only half past nine and the sun was already hot as an oven with no way to relieve it. He looked at the horse beneath him.

“I'm sure glad I don't have to carry someone on my back in this heat.”

“You don't weigh nuthin' to that horse. He's strong, you're just a fly to him,” said Ben.

“Even a fly might be too much.”

Kohn's horse was out front, occasionally he would stop and hold up a fist. Ben and William would pull on their reins and be silent while Kohn sniffed the air, or got down off his horse, examined the dirt and brush, then he'd get back on his horse and scan the horizon. They had been in the desert for two days and no sign of Ruby or the Huettes, at least none that Kohn had mentioned, he hadn't said a word in almost a day.

“Hey Kohn, what makes you think they weren't on the road in their car? We're nowhere near a road,” said Ben. “I'm no tracker but...”

Kohn Nodded. “No tracker.”

In the afternoon they stopped under the shady wall of a canyon to rest the horses.

“Do you think we'll get attacked by Indians?” William asked Ben.

“No, it's 1922, it's not like in the pictures. I don't think it ever was to be honest.”

“There are still Injuns, and we're out here on horseback sleeping by our fire at night, it's just like the pictures, cept I didn't know it was gunna be so hot.”

“Indians live on reservations now and they don't go attacking anyone.”

“So who are they?” William pointed up to the top of the canyon. A dozen or more Indian silhouettes on horseback stood watching them.

It had been months since I'd seen Charlotte face-to-face, it was safer that way. This good news couldn't wait though. I made the bold move of going straight to the Millard Mansion to speak to her myself. She had been breathtaking even when she was in the depths of sorrow, I wanted to see with my own eyes when she learned I had found her baby. I'd be a dirty liar if I claimed I hadn't imagined her perhaps hugging my neck in her joy and gratitude.

Olaf, the milk boy who had delivered my letters, had told me her quarters were the right two dormers of the third floor. Growing up in Nebraska never gave me a lot of opportunities to learn climb real good, and it was plain daylight, but that didn't matter to me none, knowin' what I know'd.

A drain pipe got me to the first and second floor roofs before I had a chance to look down, which, when I did, I realized was a big mistake. The tiled roof was steep and slippery, but I managed to overcome my fear and maneuver myself next to a dormer window. With quaking hands my pocket knife, I popped the window open and climbed inside.

I had just, for the first time in my life, committed a crime.

I found myself in a dressing room with fancy wall paper, oriental rugs, walnut furniture and finely crocheted lace on every surface. Like most houses of that stature, the top floor was reserved for servant's quarters, but her area had been converted and adorned to match her class; a finely appointed tower for Rapunzel.

I panicked for a place to hide when I heard the door latch turn, but there was no where to go, no time. A young maid walked into the room with a basket stacked high with white linens. The high load kept her from seeing me right away. I realized in my enthusiasm I had not thought out any sort of plan, I just started climbing drain pipes and opening windows, assuming Charlotte would be waiting for me at the top with open arms. My mind raced for what to do. It would be a matter of seconds before the poor girl had the fright of her life.

I had nothing.

An unfamiliar silhouette in the edge of her eye cause her to look my way. She made a meek little squeel and the basket flew up in the air. The air was a storm of white sheets and pillow cases. She made her escape on the other side of it. I ran and caught her at the door. I planted my foot against it. I grabbed her wrist and prepared to place my hand over her mouth to prevent the inevitable scream, but there was none. She fell to the ground and curled up like a potato bug with her knees to her chest and her head between them.

I let go of her arm.

“Miss, its okay,” I began unsteadily. “You see, I'm a friend of Charlotte's, of Miss Charlotte's.” The lump of maid on the floor only quivered and whimpered. “I didn't mean to frighten you, I think we frightened each other hehe. But the um, laundry seems to have taken the worst fright hehe.. Awe, get up will ya miss, I'm not going to hurt you or nothin, promise.”

I touched her back gently but she only whimpered and tightened her little cocoon.

This was a girl who had been mistreated.

What do I do now? Nothing was working. It was only a matter of time before one of the staff went to see what was taking her so long. The laundry laying about the room was clean. Some of it was still somewhat folded after it's flight.

If I was going to get out of this without wearing handcuffs I was going to have to think like a maid.

I left her by the door. She could slip out, but I had to take the risk. I picked up the nearest sheet off the floor and carefully folded it, turned the basket right-side-up and placed the sheet square in the bottom. I did another sheet, and another. I could see the maid looking up at me, her head cocked in perplexity. I pretended to pay no attention.

“I'm in service myself you know” I said, “waiter at the Country Club, even worked a party here last Christmas. Folded a few thousand tablecloths in my day, yessir.”

“You're doing it wrong.” She said.

“It's right for a table cloth.”

“wrong for bed linens.”

“Show me.” I held out a sheet in her direction.

She got up and cautiously picked up a nearby pillow case. With a couple deft moves it was a tight perfect rectangle and in the basket. A sheet took her not much longer. Between the two of us the basket was soon full and the floor empty.

“I should really launder them all over again.” She looked at the basket with heartbreak.

“The floor is spotless, no harm done. I won't tell... if you won't”

“Yeah, okay I guess. Well, just what are you doin' here mister?”

“Looking for Charlotte.”

“Miss Charlotte's a lady, you're no friend of hers creepin' in upstairs windows an such.”

“What's your name girl?”

“Opal.”

“That's a pretty name. Opal, I'm sorta workin' for miss Charlotte, helping her find something she'd lost, something she's plenty sad over. The thing is see, I think I found it.”

“You're the fella that writes them letters, and you've found her baby!”

“Um, yeah actually, how'd you know, did she tell you?” I said.

“She never says nothin'.”

“How then?”

“I thought you said you were in service?”

“Ah, of course.” I laughed, “Where is Miss Charlotte now Opal? I have to see her.”

“Oh sweet heavens, You don't know what's happened, do ya?”

Bishop Clarkson Hospital was a brand new large five story brick building with a cross standing proudly on the roof above the front entrance. Modern sun porches on either end at every floor that could conceivably be scaled, but I was done with high places! The service entrance in the back seemed my best bet. The kitchen wasn't hard to find and from there a white smock and cap hanging by a door.

“Say fella, I'm supposed to bring this dinner to Miss Millard, a lady who's here for hysteria and melancholy but they messed up the room number and I'm new so I don't know where to go.”

“You might be new, the man said, but you don't work in no kitchen.”

“Well sure I do.”

“Not with white skin you don't.”

Before I knew it I was out behind the hospital again and brushing the dirt off my shoulders. Now they knew me and had orders to keep me out.

Two nuns glided silently by me. They had come from a small convent by the hospital for the sisters who served there.

I got an idea just then. A horrible, horrible idea.

Continued in episode 14