The Duane Street Newsboys Lodging House
Mr. Shaft turned sternly to his daughter Lizzy. His eyes flashed furiously as he waved a finger haughtily close to her face. "What is the meaning of THIS?"
"Papa, I -"
"Papa, NOTHING! Young lady you are coming with me.. and you can forget any more of these little outings! CAB!" He waved his hand in the air to tag down one of the whizzing buggies in the street. Elizabeth clung to his arm, sobbing her eyes out as she pleaded for him to listen. "Papa, Please! Just come and meet them. I am sure that you will like them. Just come and see!"
"Hush!"
She motioned for Race and Spot, who had been eagerly waiting for a chance to be introduced on the steps of the entrance, to go back inside. Kid Blink slowly walked down the steps just as Mr. Shaft yelled, "Drive On!"
He noticed the tearful Lizzy and raced after the speeding carriage. "Wait! Wait!" he called, but gave up when seeing that there was no use.
Along the carriage ride back to the school Elizabeth did not meet the eyes of her father. The hate brewing deep inside her chest was far too harsh to confront at this time. Not long after they had merely entered the buggy Mr. Shaft had begun to cough. And after the jolting ride all of the way home he was even worse off and could hardly control his spurting gasps.
As soon as the horse slowed at the Shaft's Academy Elizabeth raced out of the confining chamber and up the steps to her room. Ms. Shufflefield rushed to Mr. Shaft's aid as soon as the driver opened the door. He (Shaft) clung to the rail of the carriage as gasps continued racing through his body.
"Charles, go get help!" Mrs. Shufflefield called urgently to the resident butler who stood nervously at the opened front door. Two of the maids and the caretaker, Mr. Shoul, rushed to help their raging employer indoors at the command of Mr. Shoul.
Mister Jobet, who had been resting easily in the front lobby while reading the daily paper, leapt up at the sound of the sputtering coughs and ravages.
"What is ze meaning of zis?" he asked, setting down his paper and staring madly at Mr. Shaft.
"Pierre, Mr. Shaft seems to have had a wrong turn of luck. Please, Go call the doctor. We're just going to get him up into bed." Ms. Shufflefield explained.
"Zut!.. oh! Non! non.. Zis cannot be happening! Ze children are due to return three days hence..." (A/N: Non is the French word for no. Zut! is the French word for darn.)
"Hurry, Pierre!"
He let out a flabbergasted sigh. "Non, non.... where am I to find ze doctor?" he muttered to himself.
Just then the door sprang open and Josie rushed in.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Mr. Jobet exclaimed.
"Shhh!!!" she cried, quickly covering his mouth. His words were mumbled under her hand. "Be quiet! They mustn't know that I am here!" she whispered loudly. Mr. Jobet continued to rattle on in muffled speech, his eyes growing wider and wider. "If I let go of your mouth do you promise not to yell?"
He nodded and she released him. "Ah, Non! Non! You mustn't be here! Mr. Shaft is gravely ill an' I am zoo summon ze doctor." He puffed up his chest proudly at his last words.
"Ill? What has happened?"
"No time to explain! You must leave!"
"Here -" she said, grabbing his sleeve and dragging him out the opened door. "I'll take you to find the doctor and you can explain on the way."
