Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-03-12

into the most unheard Of places, evidently
thinking 10 find the child laid away on one
OF the pantry shelves, or playing bo-peep
with her from behind the sugar jar, or
hidden in the depths of the coal scultle.
"Murihei bad luck to me for iorgellul
grill o, whirra, whirral me heart Is broke.
Whatever shall do, and the poor darlint
lost and gomez Och honcl Hear the poor
mither calling the swate babeP Biddy
Murphy, you deserve 10 do penance for a
week for bringing sore trouble TO thin as
has been kind to yes"
Again and again was the house searched
from "lurret 10 foundation stone," or rather
from garret TO cellar; but no baby rewarded
the search. Evidently he was not on the
premises. Arguing that q child who could
not walk must have been carried away,
Mrs. Holmes was forced 10 the conviction
that some one had entered the kitchen,while
Biddy's back was turned and made Oh with
the conscious babe; and being a spirited
little woman, after the first natural ebullilion
OF maternal. feeling, she speedily rose to the
occasion and sent Biddy of after the Chief
OF Police.
Biddy, in her zeal 10 repair her neg ligence
ran half a mile al her best rate OF speed, and
had hardly sufficient breath remaining to
enable her TO tell her story; but she man
aged 10 make the man understand what was
wanted OF him, and he Immediately accom-
panied her back 10 her mistress.
When the case was fully stated 10 him he
looked grave, walked all about the kitchen,
glanced keenly at the pile Of tin ware Blddy
had placed at the child's disposal, paced
slowly about the back yard, and gave
Johnny's neglected drum a kick, questioned
Biddy sternly, and looked all the while as
non. commiltal as you can possibly imagine.
The fact was the sharp man was at his wits
end. Mrs. Holmes awaited his decision, the
three remaining children clnging 10 her
skirts, their white, scared faces showing that
they realized what had happened.
Aller looking the ground over for the
third or fourth time the Chief returned 10
the weeping BiddY. my grl, you say
there was no one here between the time your
mistress left the baby In your charge and the
moment she called you TO bring him to
her?"
"Not livin' soul, sir. May the blissed
saints niVer hear me prayers il it's lie I'm
tellin' yer honorl No Twin soul, blrin' the
laundry man, who drove up to the area
gate alter the basket OF clothes for the
washln' that carried out to him myself"
"Ahp' said the Chief with a brisk air; "so
YOU sent off basket OF soiled clothes
What laundry do you patronize, Mrs.
IIolmesH
She gave MIN inc hlIeeL anu nuinDeIs
81 think I'll run over and take look at
the establishment; meanwhile, make your
self as comfortable as may he under the cir
cumslancCs. think l have a clew to the
person who carried off your child"
Mrs. Holmes begged him to use his ut
most exeTtion, declaring she should never
know a happy moment il her darling was
not found.
81 don't see what idea he has in his mind, -
she said 10 Biddy, aiier the man had politely
bowed himself out. "Only think of his
posting away over 10 tho laundry when my
poor child may be in the hands Of some
| cruel pereon who is bearing it farther and
farther awayl' And Mrs. Holmes hurst in
to tears, and Johnny and Mollie and Flora
initiated her, and Bidly went down upon
her knees and called upon all the saints in
the calender 10 lend their aid In the time Oi
trouble.
An hour passed. Il was hard waiting
Mrs. Holmes had grown very nervous; the
children seeing her distress had retired to 0
distant corner and spoke only in whispers
Biddy gToaned and crossed herself at inter
walls, and vowed all soIts of penances; pro.
vided the baby might he found, when {
quick pull at the street door bell thrilled
j than all; and uhan with trembling hands
Biddy had uniastened the door, and who
should appear but the Chief OF Police, anC
what should he have in his arms but Thu
stolen babyl
o, such shout Of Joy as went up from
that mothers hearil
The Chief explained that the moment h
heard Of clothes having gone TO the laundrl
Just previous to the disappearance of tn
child, the idea struck him that baby ha,
gone TOO. And sure enough the it'll
fellow had been found, nicely cuTled u
among the clothes, fast asleep and appai
emily ss well content as iftucked in hi
pretty crib at home.
The dear little chick biddiei He lttl
knew how much anxiety he had cost hi
friends
So the question of "Who stole the babyg
was answered,