North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-02-12

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crowd.
Our hero felt himself growing hot and
cold alternately. He had served two years
with credit in the war, and been in q score
of battles, but, through it all, he had new
ach as came over him now. Most of the
passengers left the cars; and Corban
would have done likewise, but he feared
he might lose sight of the baby's mother,
and then the train would start without
him. So in an agony of terror lest some
thing dreadful should happen, he stood
there in the aisle, holding the baby at arms
length, and fixing his frantic gaze on the
door through which his deliverer would
come.
"All aboard" cried the stentorian voice
of new conductcr-and the people rush
ed in. But the passengers were, most of
them, new ones, for there was junction
at Parkersburg and worst of oil, the ba.
by's mother was not among them.
The bell rang and cars were moving {;
the door was shut with a bang the train
was off. Corban waxed desperate.
''IIallo there - he called to the conduc-
tor. "Stop this train can't 90 on: there's
woman left behind She went to get q
cup of coffee. Stop tell you, this in
slant, SIR"
"What's up % asked the conductor.
She's left the baby
Your wife Oh never mind. Such
things occur frequently. She'll come next
train"
/" tell you to stop shall go crazy !
And -. Oh, Lord, Lord! what shall do
with the baby ? Say, I'll give you five dol
lars-ten dollars-twenty-yes fifty dol
lars, if YOU will put back and let me of at
Parkersburg !"
81 should have no objection to the
money, but couldn't oblige you if you
were one of the Rothschilds."
And the conductor passed on his way.
BLESS your sou!, sir J. said the old lady
in tho next seat, giving Corban nudge
with her parasol, ''you'l sufocate that ba-
by don't you see you're holding its feet
where its head ought to be? He's wrong
end up ~
Corban hastily reversed the youngster,
which uttered shriil yell at his treat
ment.
You'd orter be ashamed of yourself r.
went on the old lady, Indignantly, 'to toss
that blessed child around in such an on.
human way. A man never orser have no
children that don't have no material feel
ings towards 'em. Sir, you was baby
once yourself?'
just then, a thin, yellow-faccd woman
slipped into the seat in front of Corban.
She was middle-aged, but her dress had
the gushingness of sixteen. "Lo-ely child"
she exclaimed insinuatingly.
The baby began to squizzle up its face,
and flourish its fists.
"Dear me how forward it is How old
is it, sir p inquired the spinster, for such
| she was.
81 don't know !" growled Corban.
Been widover long, sir 2" inquired
the lady.
No. l never had wife,
Bless me Then she's run away and
left you Dear dear How could she
leave such nice man, and such dear,
darling baby ?"
whats that" inquired middle-aged
gentleman near by, who was evidently q
little deaf. "Your wife gone ard left you,
sir ? just my case exactly. My poor Jane
departed this life last May. got her the
handsomest gravestone that money could
buy. There's an angel on it with all her
wings spread, and this Latin description
l-Requires her cat IN Peace. The grave
stcne marker said it was good epigram,
SO you see, consented, as she was fond OF
CATS
By this time the baby began crying lus-
tily, and the whole car sympathized, es-
pecially the females.
It's got the cholera morbus ~ said the
old lady. eth die for sartin if some
thinr amt done =,
"Die !? You don't think so p cried Mr..
Corbin, hopefully.
"Dear me p said the little thin faced
woman. "what an inhuman creature its
mother was"
Take it, my good lady, do % cried
Corban, imploringly. "I'll give you a
hundred dollars to take it,"
What's all this row about ?'' said q
hand. "a child, is it Z? Fall back, aen-
tlemen, and let me look at it. Fit should
prove to be the one."
"How What do you mean ~ queried
dozen voices ut once.
1t is it is 1t can't be no other u
exclaimed the sharp-nosed man. How
strange that should chance upon it Lis
ten to this and he read from paper in
his hand the notice
sroLEN-Supposcd to have been stolen from its
carriage in Central Park, the morning of the Sh
inst, male child about nine months DID, Said CHI
has blue eyes and rather dark ha'r and is remark
ably forward child Amy person who will return HIM
to his afflicted parents, at No Forty ninth street.
or give information that will lead 10 his recovery,
shall receive a reward Of $500. Louis Roscoe"
"Wall l never y exclaimed the old
lady. IS 1t must be the very same baby |!
This child has blue eyes and dark hair,
and pears remarkable forw'd p
Yes, ma am, unquestionably the very
same," remarked the sharp-nosed man,
confidently II consider it my duty to take
possession ;"
"Oh, take it, do ~ cried Corban, i'm
ploringly 'I'll give hundred dollars to
get it off my hands"
:" No doubt you would, my man but /
amt took in that way. My name is Smith
ers-Peter Smithers, sir and live in AL
bany. I'm magistrate, sir and l ARREST
you for child-stealins.'
I tell you didn't steal it. She went
off after cup Of coffee"
Don't trouble yourself to repeat that
story again. understand the case fully"
said Mr.. Smithers, promptly.
Conductor, is there place on the
train where this rascal would be any safer
than here p
We don't run prison-cars," respond.
ed that worthy, sulkily.
"Well, gentlemen said Mr.. Smithers,
blandly, .'you are all men of honor, and
have wives and children, or ought to have;
and you all have feelings of sympathy,
doubtless, for the parents of this unfortun-
ate babe and l depend upon you, gentle
men, to assist me in guarding him until
we reach a station where can place him
in charge of the proper officials. At the
next stopping place will telegraph to
Bridesweli, and have constables ready to
take possession of him the moment we