Searching for Joy by Linda Baten Johnson

Author:Linda Baten Johnson [Baten Johnson, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-05-01T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

Ingrid went to the bars separating her from the world she knew. She’d been foolish to take in Caleb, foolish to tell him about her life, foolish to believe he might be interested in her. Now, she was behind bars while Caleb Finsson was free and far from the tenements area of Packingtown.

“Mrs. Finsson, or Mrs. Larkin, whatever you want to call yourself, you have a visitor.” The jailor was followed by a portly man in a wrinkled suit.

The man took off his round eyeglasses and polished them. He placed a coin in the jailor’s hand and moved his head sharply toward the door a couple of times, indicating he wanted privacy with the woman in the cell.

“Sir, don’t leave.” Ingrid called to the jailor. “I don’t wish to speak with this man, with anyone.” Her plea was ignored by the jailor who clanged the door shut.

“You don’t have to speak. I’ll do the talking.” The round-shaped man took a watch from his pants pocket and checked the time. “It’s to my advantage to get you out of this jail cell and out of Chicago. Would you like that?”

“I never wanted to be in a jail cell, and right now, I’d love to be anywhere except Chicago.” Ingrid lifted her chin.

“I can help you disappear,” the man said.

Ingrid drew back. “I don’t know you.”

“No, you don’t. But you should trust me. The judge won’t treat you kindly. The papers are going to create a three-ring circus around you. The packing plant owners know a nasty strike is coming. They’ve gotten rid of any workers thought to be sympathetic. They’ll paint you as a devious woman trying to steal funds to support the union cause.”

“But that’s not true.” Ingrid grasped the bars so tightly her fingers hurt.

“The plant owners have one of the newspapers in their pocket. Your reputation will be destroyed.” The visitor pulled a watch out of his vest pocket. “Ruined life wouldn’t be much of a Christmas present for you, would it? I’ll get you out of here, but you have to disappear right now.”

Ingrid felt tears sting her eyes. “I’d like to say good-bye to my friends.”

“No time. And I can’t have any ties to you either. Any relatives who might take you in?”

Ingrid paused to consider whether or not she should trust this man and then noticed the tight line of his mouth which reflected his impatience. She made a decision. “I could go to Mercer County, to Joy. I have an uncle there.”

“Joy it is. Good name for your new home at Christmas.” The man slipped a key from his pocket and unlocked the cell. He picked up a bundle from a chair in the corridor. “Put on this cloak and pull the hood tight to cover your face and hair. You’re lucky they allowed you to keep your pocketbook. Take my arm, lean on me.”

Ingrid pulled back.

“We’ll look like a distressed couple who just visited someone in the jail. Hurry. I have a carriage outside.

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