The room into which Mrs. Andrews was ushered was the kitchen. It was spotlessly clean, and a fire was burning in the stove.
"She’s in there," the woman whispered, pointing to a door on the left. "The children are upstairs."
Mrs. Andrews at once removed her hat, arranged her dishevelled hair, and brushed some of the dust from her dress. When she had accomplished this, she announced her intention of remaining with the patient.
"But I don’t mind staying," the woman informed her.
"Perhaps not, but I want you to go and phone to the police. Tell them that Isaac Dimock’s chauffeur ran away with Mrs. Abner Andrews, of Ash Point, and nearly killed her by running the auto into a ditch. You will do that, won’t you? I hope it will not be too much trouble."
"Oh, I don’t mind going," the woman replied.
"But——" Here she hesitated, and lowered her voice as she glanced toward the bedroom. "I don’t like to leave her."
"Can’t I look after her as well as you?" Mrs. Andrews asked.
"Perhaps so. But you might not altogether understand her. She’s greatly worried about her children, and she’s afraid they’ll starve. It’s necessary to keep cheering her up and telling her that they’ll be all right."
"H’m, I guess you can leave that to me," Mrs. Andrews replied. "I’m used to odd people, so you go along and telephone for the police. I don’t want that rascal to escape."
The woman at once obeyed, and when she returned several hours later it was broad daylight. She was surprised to find Mrs. Denton asleep, and Mrs. Andrews preparing breakfast for the children.
"How did you do it?" she asked, as she peeked into the bedroom.
"Oh, that was no trouble. I simply told her that her children would be all right; that you were to take two and that I would be responsible for the others."
"Certainly. What else is there to do? I shall look after them until some other arrangement is made. You phoned to the police, I suppose?"
"Yes, and they said the matter would be attended to at once."
"That is good," and Mrs. Andrews gave a sigh of relief. "I must go home now, and I wish to take these children with me. Is there anyone you can get to drive us?"
"My husband will," the woman replied. "He is going to town right after dinner, and will be glad to take you and the children along."