The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-25

at last to bed he lay awake for a long
time with thoughts more sad than he
ever had before. He was not thriving
in the city air. and he fretted at the
idea of being an uncertain help to his
mother. He was shocked at the news
that his father was out of work, for he
was aware of now little was saved from
low wages and big expenses for a
rainy day. He was sorely vexed above
all, that his carelessness should have
deprived the family of the only hearty
meal they could hope for for many a.
hungry day.
Thanksgiving evening broke sharp
and cold, with just furry or two OF
snow. and the indications of bitter
weather determined Bob's mother not
to allow the new baby out of the
house.
TITS not to catch cola, just because
it's away from home,' she said, and
insisted that the police could come and
see it more conveniently than the baby
could go to see them. She had her way,
for the present, for Bob's father. in
spite of its being a holiday, counted on
doing some work on an old job, and
therefore went down town. The mother
finished her work in the house and
went out mysteriously, after counting
carefully the coins in a little pocket
II.
with her, and Bob knew she was off to
buy some substitute for the lost turkey
and mince pies.
you're tired, Bob, so you take care
of the basket baby till L get back" she
said. Thine enough to think what to
do with it. It's own mother wouldn't
let it out on such a day, nohow.'
So the house was left very still and
quiet, save for the noises from the
ctTaot oD6 Oppo Gspre on the
stairway. The baby slept, and Bob
sat still and thought and thought of
the country and the woods and trees,
and the best way to get rich and live
for ever in such pleasant places.
The best way to get rich, Bob felt
sure, was to get to work, so he seized
newspaper that his father had
thrown upon the floor. TO look at the
advertisements for boys. It was that
mornings paper, and, as he caught it,
his eye fell upon a name he knew well
Ray. Ray, the employer, Ray, the
rich man with the country house at
Mayville, Ray, the most enviable one.
| Bob looked to see what his late en-
ployer had been put in the papers
about. He read the paragraph, gave
shrill WhOop waved the paper round
his head, and performed an impromptu
and most ferociOus war dance all
around the baby.
''Hooray!" yelled the boy. Here's
luck! Whoop, you millionaire! Wake
up and tell your papa to give my dad
back his job! Whoopee!"
The baby did wake up, and scowled
on Bob most resentfully, and then
drowned the boys wild shouts in an
ear-splitting screech.
''Hushi" cried Bob. you're worse
f! than a street full of tenement babies!
| Don't you know such a rich baby as
! you ought to set an example? Where S
your manners? Keep quiet till [ read
! you all about how you're lost"
1t was a very short dispatch from
Mayville, sent out late the previous
night, to the effect that Mr.. Rays son
| and heir was missing, with it's nurse,
and great fears were entertained that
/ the child was stolen, and would be held
for a ransom. Mrs. Ray was distracted,
! the neighbors were out searching the
, countryside; all efforts We're being
made to run the rascals to earth.
There came a knock on the hall
door. which checked Bob in another
war dance. He opened it. and was al
most brushed down by the man of the
railway cars. who was standing there
! with a big basket on his arm, and
who dashed into the fiat like a wild
man.
Here's your wretched turkey!'' he
cried. 20, you're the boy who changed
baskets with me- are you? What do
you mean by it, Ell? You little kidnap-
perl Steal my sisters sick child, would
you? Lucky there was a card on the
turkey, with your address. I've been
half way to Philadelphia before I
found out what you'd done. I've great
mind to hand you over to the police,
you rascal"
He was a big man, and he spoke so
-.
nent, had nothing to say. This sudden
twist in the matter bewildered him,
but. even so, he could not help noticing
that the man seemed very nervous. put
out, and all the time he was buster
ing he was looking about to make sure
that the boy was alone.
"Ah, here's The infant-the beloved
baby" he went on. II wonder it's
alive! If you've not treated it well I'll
prosecute you for Kidnapping. i've no
time to lose. Still in it's basket?''
Il say" cried Bob, at last finding
his wits. Leave that basket and the
baby, tool | know all about you. It's
you that's the kidnapperl There's the
paper. Don't you dare strike me!
Help, Policel Po-ol-a-ugh-gr-rI
He hardly got out one yell before
the man was upon him with g, ferCcious
bound, choking the breath out of him
DO that again." he growled, land
I'll kill you!' And he threw the boy
in corner, pressed a handkerchief
against the crying baby's face-which
made it's Wailing cease-and darted out
of the house with it, but seized the
key as he went and locked the door
from the outside
1t may have been rage at being
struck down; it may have been only q
determination to restore the baby t.
Mr. Ray; it may have been-let us
trust it Was-only a righteous desire
to protect the weak. Whatever wert
his motives, Bob picked himself VI
from the floor, and rushed at the door
1t yielded nothing. Then he got E
chair and pulled himself up to the
transom. In d second he was through
it, hatless, dusty, choked and painting
but thirsting for revenge. Down the
stairs he leaped three at {
time; out on the cross stree
he plunged, scattering crowt
of youngsters playing marble!
Up the street, unmindful of the boy
behind, who shouted anathemas afte
him. Half block down the avenu
he saw a street car plunging along
and, on the rear platform, the man
the kidnapper, with the wrapped VI
baby in his arms. Bob had not a cen
for car fare, but he dashed after tn
E skimming trolley as if he owned tn
, street
Too breathless to shout, Bob elbowe'
and ducked and lodged along at run
: away speed, until the sidewalks behin'
him were full of old men dancing OF