Then Jurgis went out again, and paced up and down
before the building. All the morning he stayed there,
with no thought of his work. About noon he went to
the police station to make inquiries, and then came back
again for another anxious vigil. Finally, toward the
middle of the afternoon, he set out for home once more.

He was walking out Ashland Avenue. The street-cars
had begun running again, and several passed him, packed
to the steps with people. The sight of them set Jurgis
to thinking again of the man's sarcastic remark; and half
involuntarily he found himself watching the cars -- with
the result that he gave a sudden startled exclamation,
and stopped short in his tracks.

Then he broke into a run. For a whole block he tore
after the car, only a little ways behind. That rusty black
hat with the drooping red flower, it might not be Ona's,
but there was very little likelihood of it. He would know
for certain very soon, for she would get out two blocks
ahead. He slowed down, and let the car go on.

She got out; and as soon as she was out of sight on the
side street Jurgis broke into a run. Suspicion was rife in
him now, and he was not ashamed to shadow her; he saw
her turn the corner near their home, and then he ran again,
and saw her as she went up the porch-steps of the house.
After that he turned back, and for five minutes paced up
and down, his hands clenched tightly and his lips set, his
mind in a turmoil. Then he went home and entered.

As he opened the door, he saw Elzbieta, who had also
been looking for Ona, and had come home again. She
was now on tiptoe, and had a finger on her lips. Jurgis
waited until she was close to him.

"Don't make any noise," she whispered, hurriedly.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"Ona is asleep," she panted. "She's been very ill.
I'm afraid her mind's been wandering, Jurgis. She was
lost on the street all night, and I've only just succeeded
in getting her quiet."

"When did she come in?" he asked.

"Soon after you left this morning," said Elzbieta.

[[174]]

p173 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p174w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p175

v?