St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-05-13

anything about it. What do you take
me for?'
"For the most Internal idiot I've
seen in ten years. was the response.
"Tll be blessed if l know what YOU are
driving att
"Mebbe not. But | amt the kind of
goat to have that sized trick put up
on me, and don't you forget it. I've
seen that played before. and you don't
saddle no kid on me if [ know it,
The mans voice was loud and defiant
Several people We're around the hotel
entrance. and they gazed curiously
toward the carriage, being attracted by
the loud talking. Richard Kennetson
thoroughly hated being the center OF a
crowd; and being withal tender-heart-
ed he gathered up his small charge
and dismounted from the vehicle, tax
ing note of the number and saving:
"But | can't leave the child with such a
beast, if have to adopt it myself" he
strobe into the hotel, followed by in
curing glances.
1t is safe to say that the elegant,
aristocratic Mr.. Kennetson had never
before found himself in quite so trying
situation. But he would not prolong
the agony by waiting to explain, so he
gave the infant into the hands of por-
ter while he secured a room; which be-
ing done, he stalked with gloomy
aspect up stairs. closely followed by the
new addition to his family.
Once within the room, the distracted
bachelor deposited the baby on the bed
and sat down to think over the situa-
ton. He concluded it would be wisest
to inform the police. In the meantime
the baby began to cry, and in this emer-
geney the police appearing rather du-
bious as an immediate remedy, he at
tempted to restore peace He took off
his watch and chain and gave it as a
peace-offering; this failed, and the
small tyrant eyincing liking for his
cuff-buttons, which he clutched perse-
yeringly in his hands, Mr. Kennetson
removed his cuffs, and had the satisfac-
ton of seeing the starched linen con-
veyed to the baby's mouth. Quiet
rel gned; and just as he was congratu-
lating himself on the success of this ex-
pertinent, the baby Strengthened out and
screamed. Then Mr.. Kennetson took
him up, and Sammy, clutching at his
necktie, pulled until his victim managed
to unfasten the halter and gave it to
him. Whereupon he put it nearly all
into his mouth and was still for a few
seconds. The necktie proving no more
satisfactory as an article of diet than
the cuffs, he again lifted up his voice
and wept. Then Mr.. Kennetson set
him down on the bed, and emptied his
pockets of all his small change, keys,
etc. Sammy grabbed at the coins and
Immediately conveyed handful to his
shining pink gums. At that moment
Mr.. Richard Kennetson remembered all
the stories he had ever heard of chill
dren who were strangled with fVe-cent
pieces, and he made dash at the poor
innocent, prying open his mouth to see
how many he had left in. Sammy re-
sented such treatment, and his mouth
being conveniently open didn't shut it
again, but made use of the opportunity
to raise his lamentations to deafening
pitch. Mr. Kennetson was reduced to
despair. All at once he had an idea:
"Was there ever such an idiot?' he ex-
claimed. "Why, it S hungry, of course.
Come. to think of it, babies are always
being fed when they are not asleep, or
crying, or being washed" And he
danced to the bell and gave it jerk.
"What'l I tell him to bring? Broth,
beef tea-let me think-why, milk
milk, of course
The milk had the desired effect, and
tranquility finally reigned in No. 68.
Sammy crowed in delightful little CUR
gle, rubbed his soft little hand all over
Richard Kennetson's classical features,
| pulled his golden-brown mustache, and
lapsed off to sleep in the most seraphic
manner imaginable. Now this same
bachelor had a great, big, tender heart,
and these caressing little attentions, to-
gether with the deserted forlornness of
the poor, little. cherub, quite won his
affections. He watched the sleeping in
nocent Sammy was really handsome
specimen Of boyhood), and thought of
his sister Nina, who had Just lost such
an one, and wondered if she would not
ike this little fellow in its place; SO he
Immediately wrote a letter asking her to
take the child. + III Va
whats the use of going to the police
about it?'' he reasoned. s'No doubt the
poor little creature is some castaway,
left on purposein the hack, and Nina
would love him and care for him. And
it's hard-deuced hard-to think he
might have to take his chances for that. y
A reporter, having in some way OBJ
tanned a glimmering of the facts from a
hackman, scented an abduction case
and requested an interview. Kennetson
YEARLY granted an audience and pa
tiently explained the case, exacting se-
crecy in the matter of names. j
When he next appeared outside of his
room, the plying looks with which he
had before been greeted were changed