Jake nodded his understanding. “Right. I guess I’m not used to this spirit thing yet. Anyway, I was supposed to get some kind of sign, and I found this in my pocket yesterday.” He pulled out the handkerchief and handed it to her.

“You just found it yesterday?” she asked, probably surprised that it had taken him so long. She unfolded the cloth square to read the embroidery. “Oh my!”

“Yes, it’s amazing, isn’t it? I couldn’t imagine what kind of a sign my mother could send me so I’d be sure it was from her.”

“This is pretty obvious, though, isn’t it?” Persephone said, plainly pleased. “Do you know what it means?”

“I think it means that I’m supposed to take advantage of the opportunity she sent me. It came as a surprise, but I’m going to make a lot of money on this deal, Persephone. For once my mother is going to really help me.”

—

After their encounter with the mysterious girl, Cybil and Zelda went about their usual Saturday duties, tidying up their house and going to the market. Cybil could tell Zelda was still worrying about the girl and nothing Cybil said could convince her not to. They were finally relaxing that afternoon when someone knocked on their door.

“I’ll get it,” Cybil said, fairly certain she knew who would be calling or at least the reason for their visit.

Zelda frowned but made no move to follow her out to the foyer. Cybil opened the door to a rather ordinary-looking gentleman in a well-tailored suit and sporting an impressive set of side-whiskers. He pulled off his derby hat when he saw her.

“I’m so sorry to bother you, ma’am, but I was wondering if you’d seen a young girl wandering around the neighborhood alone. She . . . Well, I’m afraid she might be in some danger.”

“Danger from what?” Cybil asked.

The man winced. “From being all alone in the city. Any young girl would be in danger in that situation, don’t you agree?”

Cybil didn’t bother to say if she did or did not. “Is she some relation to you?”

“No, not exactly. You see, she . . . Well, I suppose I should explain. I’ve started a sort of ministry in the city, a home for wayward girls.”

“How magnanimous of you, sir,” Zelda exclaimed. At some point she had joined Cybil in the foyer. She would have overheard him and been unable to resist.

“I am just trying to do the Lord’s work,” he said modestly. “But it isn’t as easy as one might think. And now young Sally has run away. She’s not very trustful, I’m afraid.”

“I think we may have seen her,” Zelda said. “She was rooting through our garbage this morning for something to eat.”