CHAPTER XV.
KIDNAPED!
The following day Lizette seemed strangely overcome--almostprostrated--by what she claimed she had beheld from her window theprevious night. Professing that she was quite ill, she kept to her rooma great deal, permitting Maggie to care for the baby.
Carson was restless and nervous, and in his face his friends observed astrange look of eagerness, which at times gave place to an expression oftriumph or of doubt. His injury proved to be comparatively slight.
Frank reported the presence of the prowler and the attack on Carson tothe local authorities.
Somehow an atmosphere of unrest and uncertainty, a sensation ofexpectation in the face of some unforeseen calamity, seemed to hoverover Merry Home.
It was nearly mid-afternoon, and Inza was on the veranda, with Elsienear, when Maggie appeared, looking puzzled and frightened.
"Shure, ma'am," she said, "Oi wish ye'd come up and take a peep at thechoild."
"Is anything the matter with little Frank?" exclaimed Inza, hastilyrising. "Is he ill, Maggie?"
"Nivver a bit," answered the girl. "He's slaping loike a top."
"But what is it? You look so queer."
"It's quare Oi feel, ma'am. Oi left him in his little bed a whoile agoto take a bit av a breath, which Oi naded. Whin Oi came back he wasthere, all roight, all roight, but it's moighty odd he looks to me."
Inza followed Maggie to the chamber where the child lay asleep.
"Lift the window shade and let in the light," she said.
It happened that Frank came over to the house a few moments later to geta book he needed, and he was startled when his wife, pale and shaking,came flying down the stairs, seized him by the arm, and panted:
"Come, Frank--this minute! Come quick! The baby!"
Believing the child seriously ill, Merry lost no time in following hiswife. They found Elsie beside the crib. The baby lay there wide awake,looking at them in a wondering way as they stooped above him.
"Why, he doesn't seem to be ill, Inza," said Merry. "You frightened me.I thought he was dying."
She clutched his arm with a grip that was almost frantic in itsastonishing strength.
"Look at him!" she hoarsely cried. "Look close!"
"What is it, Inza? What do you see?"
"His hair--can't you see the change?"
"The change?"
"Yes, yes! His hair is lighter!"
"Lighter?"
"Yes, lighter than little Frank's! And his eyes--his eyes are blue!Frank's were brown!"
"Great heavens, it's true!" burst from Merriwell. "What does it mean,Inza? What sort of juggling in this?"
"Frank Merriwell, that's not our child!"
He staggered as if struck a terrible blow.
"Not our child? Then, who---- What child is it? Where did it come from?You must be mistaken, Inza!"
"I'm not! I know my own baby boy!"
"The star--look for the star!" shouted Merriwell.
Almost fiercely he seized the baby's garments and with one movement torethem from the tiny shoulder.
The mark of the star was not there!
Merriwell straightened up and stood for a moment like a man turned tostone. In that moment, however, while he outwardly seemed so inactiveand dumfounded his brain was working swiftly.
"Where's Lizette?" he demanded, and his voice was calm and cold.
"Where's Lizette, Maggie?" panted Inza, turning on the now thoroughlyfrightened servant.
"In her room, ma'am, Oi suppose," was the answer.
"Find her," said Frank. "Bring her here instantly."
Maggie rushed away and soon returned with the announcement that Lizettewas not in her room.
By this time Inza was so frightened that she was threatened withhysterics. She almost fought Elsie, who was seeking to calm her.
"Let me talk to her, Elsie," said Frank.
He grasped his wife firmly yet gently, holding her and looking straightinto her eyes.
"Look at me, Inza--look at me," he commanded. "Look me in the eyes."
Even in her frantic condition she could not disobey him. TremblinglyElsie looked on, seeing Merry gaze intently into his wife's dark eyes.
"Inza," said Frank, in that same calm, masterful tone, "you must bequiet. You must trust me. I've never failed you yet. I'll not fail younow. That is not our child, but I will find little Frank and bring himback to you. Sit here!"
He lifted her bodily and placed her in a big easy-chair. Again he gazedintently into her eyes, and beneath that gaze she rapidly grew calmer.
"You know I'll do what I have said I would, Inza--you know it."
"Yes," she huskily whispered, "I know it, Frank--but I'm almostdistracted--I'm almost crazy! Don't lose a moment!"
"Wait calmly and confidently when I'm gone. I'll have to leave you. WhenI return I'll place little Frank in your arms."
He kissed her.
A moment later he was gone.