Middletown transcript., 1892-10-13


are always being fed when they are
not asleep, or crying, or being
washed" And he danced to the bell
and gave it a jerk. "What'll I tell
him to bring? Broth, beef tea-let
think why, milk, of course"
The milk had the desired effect, and
tranquility reigned once more. Sam.
my crowed in a delightful gurgle,
rubbed his soft little hands over Rich
ard Kennetson's classical features,
pulled his golden brown mustache,
and lapsed off to sleep in the most
seraphic manner.
Now this same bachelor had great
big, tender heart, and these caressing
little attentions, together with the de-
serted forlornness of the poor cherub
quite won his affections. He watched
the sleeping innocent-Sammy was a
handsome specimen of boyhood- and
thought of his sister Nina, who had
just lost such one, and wondered if
she would not like this little fellow in
its place, SO he Immediately wrote a
letter asking her to take the child.
"What is the use of going to the pc
lice about it?" he reasoned. "No
doubt the poor baby is some castaway,
left purposely in the hack, and Nina
would love him and care for him.
And it is dueced hard to think he
might have to take his chances for
that" e,fa aa aa
A reporter having in some way OBJ.
tanned a glimmering of the facts from
hackman, scented an abduction case
and requested an interview. Kennet-
son YEARLY granted an audience and
patiently explained the case, exacting
secrecy in the matter of names.
When next he appeared outside of
his room, the plying looks with which
he had before been greeted were
changed to glances of distrust and sus.
picion. Evidently the abduction
theory was gaining ground and when
a policeman called upon him the
doubtful aspect of affairs developed
into downright horror and amazement,
which reached its highest pitch when
the pair. with the baby, entered a
hack and drove away.
The hotel boarders had their sus-
picions. Mrs. Ponsonby Green de-
clared it was perfectly dreadful to
have such things going on under ones
very nose, and Miss Blinkerby re-
sponded that for her part she didn't
know what the world was coming to,
while the bell boy, who had carried up
the milk, being anxiously interviewed,
gave graphic and highly colored
account Of Mr.. Kennetson's disordered
appearance and ferocieus manner,
which very much strengthened the
suspicion that that dreadful man had
tried to strangle the child. failing in
which he had sent for milk with which
to poison it.
Mr.. Hoskins was not at the hotel
when the baby arrived.
"Let me 60 first and see if it is
really Sammy. 1t might be a mis-
take, and that would be SO hard for
you." said Margaret. putting aside
her sister, and fastening down to the
parlor.
Mr.. Kennetson stood looking out of
one of the windows the policeman,
good, fatheriy looking individual, who
had "kids Of his own," as he express
ed it to his companion, was dancing
the baby up and down, bringing him
into high state of good humor, when
Margaret appeared.
"Why, of course that's Sammy !
You dear, precious little darling T.
and she made dive for the aforesaid.
al must take him to his mother this
Instant. Please wait a moment" she
said, rapidly disappearing through
the door.
That voice Could it be possible ?
Kennetson, turning just in time to
catch vanishing view of its owner,
found it really was that "mighty nice
little girl" without doubt, whereat
he slipped bill into the policeman's
hand.
Very shortly Miss Earle again ap-
peared on the scene. Mrs. Hoskins
wished to express her gratitude. to the
officer, and just then Kennetson turn
ed and faced her. She started, blush.
ed rosy red, and then, stepping for
ward, gave him her hand, looking up
with eyes in which the tears had be-
gun to gather.
Kennetson related the facts of the
case, leaving out the disagreeable
features, to his interested listener, and
the latter expressed her gratitude, and
looked great deal more thsn she ex.
pressed. About this time Mr.. Hoskins
came in, and then it had to be all
gone over again, and Margaret slip
ped away to squeeze the baby once
more, and to mingle her happy tears
with those of the mother.
Well, it turned out that Kennetson