Aunt Jane's Nieces on the Ranch
CHAPTER V--INEZ THREATENS
"Yes," said Louise, a week later, "we all make fools of ourselves overToodlums, Really, girls, Jane is a very winning baby. I don't say thatbecause I'm her mother, understand. If she were anyone else's baby, I'dsay the same thing."
"Of course," agreed Patsy. "I don't believe such a baby was ever beforeborn. She's so happy, and sweet, and--and--"
"And comfortable," said Beth. "Indeed, Jane is a born sorceress; shebewitches everyone who beholds her dear dimpled face. This is animpartial opinion, you know; I'd say the same thing if I were not heradoring auntie."
"It's true," Patsy declared. "Even the Mexicans worship her. And MildredTravers--the sphinx--whose blood I am sure is ice-water, displays adevotion for baby that is absolutely amazing. I don't blame her, youknow, for it must be a real delight to care for such a fairy. I'msurprised, Louise, that you can bear to have baby out of your sight somuch of the time."
Louise laughed lightly.
"I'm not such an unfeeling mother as you think," she answered. "I knowjust where baby is every minute and she is never out of my thoughts.However, with two nurses, both very competent, to care for Toodlums, Ido not think it necessary to hold her in my lap every moment."
Here Uncle John and the major approached the palm, under which the threenieces were sitting, and Mr. Merrick exclaimed:
"I'll bet a cookie you were talking of baby Jane."
"You'd win, then," replied Patsy. "There's no other topic ofconversation half so delightful."
"Jane," observed the major, musingly, as he seated himself in a rusticchair. "A queer name for a baby, Louise. Whatever possessed you toburden the poor infant with it?"
"Burden? Nonsense, Major! It's a charming name," cried Patsy.
"She is named after poor Aunt Jane," said Louise.
A silence somewhat awkward followed.
"My sister Jane," remarked Uncle John gravely, "was in some respects anadmirable woman."
"And in many others detestable," said Beth in frank protest. "The onlygood thing I can remember about Aunt Jane," she added, "is that shebrought us three girls together, when we had previously been almostunaware of one anothers' existence. And she made us acquainted withUncle John."
"Then she did us another favor," added Patsy. "She died."
"Poor Aunt Jane!" sighed Louise. "I wish I could say something to provethat I revere her memory. Had the baby been a boy, its name would havebeen John; but being a girl I named her for Uncle John's sister--thehighest compliment I could conceive."
Uncle John nodded gratefully. "I wasn't especially fond of Jane,myself," said he, "but it's a family name and I'm glad you gave it tobaby."
"Jane Merrick," said the major, "was very cruel to Patsy and to me, andso I'm sorry you gave her name to baby."
"Always contrary, eh?" returned Uncle John, with a tolerant smile, forhe was in no wise disturbed by this adverse criticism of his defunctsister--a criticism that in fact admitted little argument. "But itoccurs to me that the most peculiar thing about this name is that youthree girls, who were once Aunt Jane's nieces, are now Niece Jane'saunts!"
"Except me," smiled Louise. "I'm happy to claim a closer relationship.But returning to our discussion of Aunt Jane. She was reallyinstrumental in making our fortunes as well as in promoting ourhappiness, so I have no regret because I made baby her namesake."
"The name of Jane," said Patsy, "is in itself beautiful, because it issimple and old-fashioned. Now that it is connected with my chubby nieceit will derive a new and added luster."
"Quite true," declared Uncle John.
"Where is Arthur?" inquired the major.
"Writing his weekly batch of letters," replied Arthur's wife. "When theyare ready he is to drive us all over to town in the big car, and we haveplanned to have lunch there and to return home in the cool of theevening. Will that program please our guests?"
All voiced their approval and presently Arthur appeared with his lettersand bade them get ready for the ride, while he brought out the car. Healways drove the machine himself, as no one on the place was competentto act as chauffeur; but he managed it admirably and enjoyed driving.
Louise went to the nursery to kiss little Jane. The baby lay in hercrib, fast asleep. Near her sat Mildred Travers, reading a book.Crouched in the window-seat was Inez, hugging her knees and gazingmoodily out into the garden.
The nursery was in the East Wing, facing the courtyard but also lookingupon the rose garden, its one deep-set window being near a corner of theroom. On one side it connected with a small chamber used by Inez, whichoccupied half the depth of the wing and faced the garden. The other halfof the space was taken by a small sewing-room letting out upon thecourt.
At the opposite side of little Jane's nursery was a roomy chamber whichhad been given up to Mildred, and still beyond this were the roomsoccupied by Arthur and Louise, all upon the ground floor. By thisarrangement the baby had a nurse on either side and was only one roomremoved from its parents.
This wing was said to be the oldest part of the mansion, a fact attestedby the great thickness of the walls. Just above was the famous blue roomoccupied by the major, where ghosts were supposed at times to hold theirrevels. Yet, despite its clumsy construction, the East Wing was cheeryand pleasant in all its rooms and sunlight flooded it the year round.
After the master and mistress had driven away to town with their guests,Inez sat for a time by the window, still motionless save for anoccasional wicked glance over her shoulder at Mildred, who read placidlyas she rocked to and fro in her chair. The presence of the Americannurse seemed to oppress the girl, for not a semblance of friendship hadyet developed between the two; so presently Inez rose and glided softlyout into the court, leaving Mildred to watch the sleeping baby.
She took the path that led to the Mexican quarters and ten minutes laterentered the hut where Bella, the skinny old hag who was the wife toMiguel Zaloa, was busy with her work.
"Ah, Inez. But where ees Mees Jane?" was the eager inquiry.
Inez glanced around to find several moustached faces in the doorway.Every dark, earnest eye repeated the old woman's question. The girlshrugged her shoulders.
"She is care for by the new nurse, Meeldred. I left her sleeping."
"Who sleeps, Inez?" demanded the aged Miguel. "Ees it the new nurse, orMees Jane?"
"Both, perhap." She laughed scornfully and went out to the shed thatconnected two of the adobe dwellings and served as a shady loungingplace. Here a group quickly formed around her, including those whofollowed from the hut.
"I shall kill her, some day," declared the girl, showing her gleamingteeth. "What right have she to come an' take our baby?"
Miguel stroked his white moustache reflectively.
"Ees this Meeldred good to Mees Jane?" he asked.
"When anyone looks, yes," replied Inez reluctantly. "She fool even baby,some time, who laugh at her. But poor baby do not know. I know. ThisMeeldred ees a devil!" she hissed.
The listening group displayed no emotion at this avowal. They eyed thegirl attentively, as if expecting to hear more. But Inez, having ventedher spite, now sulked.
"Where she came from?" asked Miguel, the recognized spokesman.
"Back there. New York," tossing her head in an easterly direction.
"Why she come?" continued the old man.
"The little mans with no hair--Meest Merrick--he think I not know aboutbabies. He think this girl who learns babies in school, an' from books,know more than me who has care for many baby--but for none like our MeesJane. Mees Jane ees angel!"
They all nodded in unison, approving her assertion.
"Eet ees not bad thought, that," remarked old Bella. "Books an' schoolsees good to teach wisdom."
"Pah! Not for babies," objected her husband, shaking his head. "Book an'school can not grow orange, either. To do a thing many time ees to knowit better than a book can know."
"Besides," said Inez, "this Meeldred ees witch-woman."
"Yes?"
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"I know it. She come from New York. But yesterday she say to me: 'Let uswheel leetle Jane to the live oak at Burney's.' How can she know thereis live oak at Burney's? Then, the first day she come, she say: 'Takebaby's milk into vault under your room an' put on stone shelf to keepcool.' I, who live here, do not know of such a vault. She show me somestone steps in one corner, an' she push against stone wall. Then wallopen like door, an' I find vault. But how she know it, unless she iswitch-woman?"
There was a murmur of astonishment. Old Miguel scratched his head as ifpuzzled.
"I, too, know about thees vault," said he; "but then, eet ees I know allof the old house, as no one else know. Once I live there with SenorCristoval. But how can thees New York girl know?"
There was no answer. Merely puzzled looks.
"What name has she, Inez?" suddenly asked Miguel.
"Travers. Meeldred Travers."
The old man thought deeply and then shook his head with a sigh.
"In seexty year there be no Travers near El Cajon," he asserted. "Ithought maybe she have been here before. But no. Even in old days thereees no Travers come here."
"There ees a Travers Ranch over at the north," asserted Bella.
"Eet ees a name; there be no Travers live there," declared Miguel, stillwith that puzzled look upon his plump features.
Inez laughed at him.
"She is witch-woman, I tell you. I know it! Look in her eyes, an' see."
The group of Mexicans moved uneasily. Old Miguel deliberately rolled acigarette and lighted it.
"Thees woman I have not yet see," he announced, after due reflection."But, if she ees witch-woman, eet ees bad for Mees Jane to be near her."
"That is what _I_ say!" cried Inez eagerly. She spoke better Englishthan the others. "She will bewitch my baby; she will make it sickly, soit will die!" And she wrung her hands in piteous misery.
The Mexicans exchanged frightened looks. Old Bella alone seemedunaffected.
"Mees Weld own her baby--not us," suggested Miguel's wife. "If Mees Weldtheenk thees girl is safe nurse, what have we to say--eh?"
"I say she shall not kill my baby!" cried Inez fiercely. "That is what_I_ say, Bella. Before she do that, I kill thees Meeldred Travers."
Miguel examined the girl's face intently.
"You are fool, Inez," he asserted. "It ees bad to keel anything--eventhees New York witch-woman. Be compose an' keep watch. Nothing harm MeesJane if you watch. Where are your folks, girl?"
"Live in San Diego," replied Inez, again sullen.
"Once I know your father. He ees good man, but drink too much. If youmake quarrel about thees new nurse, you get sent home. Then you loseMees Jane. So keep compose, an' watch. If you see anything wrong, cometo me an' tell it. That ees best."
Inez glanced around the group defiantly, but all nodded approval of oldMiguel's advice. She rose from the bench where she was seated, shruggedher shoulders disdainfully and walked away without a word.