Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-04-15
The Stolen Baby.

The Stolen Baby.
One afternoon about sunset, while
May and her little baby brother, Dodo,
were walking in the garden, woman,
with dark face and red handker-
chief bound about her head, looked
over the fence and said:
Little girl, will you give a poor
woman drink of water?"
YES" said May, "I'll bring you a
!! glass from the WE'LL" a..
Seating Dodo on the soft grass she
darted away to the well at the back of
the house, and flew back with The
water, but the glass fell from her hand
and lay shattered at her feet, for the
gate stood open, and both Dodo and
the woman were gone. One glance up
and down the shady road, and May
scrambled over the bars of the oppo-
site field, for she caught sight of a
red handkerchief at the farther side,
and saw the woman walking away
withs great bundle over her back.
"She has stolen Dodo," thought May
in terror, "but she shall not get of
with him. I will never lose sight Of
the wicked woman until she gives me
back my Dodo," and on she sped in hot
pursuit, tears pouring down her
cheeks.
May followed the woman down into
great common, where she saw mot
ley crowd of men, women, children and
dogs. Trembling from head to foot,
she watched the woman make her way
to covered wagon, and lift the baby
from her back. May slipped from one
tree to another, until she stood so close
/, to the wagon that she could almost
touch it. The baby was crying.
"stop that. or I'll slap you," said the
woman, fercely. But though the baby
screamed louder than ever, the woman
did not carry out her threat, but called
out: Shut up your eyes and 60 to
| Sleep" as she walked away.
AS soon as she was left alone, May
slipped from her hiding place and
climbed up on the wheel of the wagon
and peeped in. It was too dark to see
now, so she put her hands in and felt
around. Presently they were seized by
two chubby fists.
"Oh, Dodo! Darling little Dodo,'
whispered May.
"Do-do," repeated the baby.
Why, I never heard him say that
before" thought May, hugging and
kissing him rapturously.
May looked behind her apprehens-
lively, but there was no one in sight. so
she gently put his arms around her
neck. @
"Now, Dodo," she whispered. "hold
on tight, and we'll get away from this
dreadful place as soon as ever we can. .
"Do-do," squealed the baby at the ton
of his small voice, and he squeezed her
so tightly that it almost took her
breath away"
"He don't act like himself He's been
frightened, and, oh! how heavy he is
| thought May, as she sprang down from
the wheel on which she had been
standing.
| Dodo's weight caused her to fall
but as baby was not hurt she seized
his hand and hurried toward the trees
and bushes, keeping her eyes upon the
group of people. Near the hill she
heard terrified screams from the gypsy
camp.
"Do-do! screamed the baby.
AS his voice rang out on the quiet air
May heard the crash of heavy steps be-
hind her. Snatching up the child, she
ran, for fright gave her strength, and
she never stopped until she reached
the porch of her own house, and
dropped him in his mothers lap, cry
ing:
Glide him, quick; they are after
him"
"Why. May cried her mother
"what is the matter, and who is this
dirty little child?"
Don't you see? It's Dodo," said
May. ''The gypsy carried him away
and put him in her wagon; but fol-
lowed and got him back. She has
changed his clothes and painted him
gypsy color. as they always do in the
stories; but when you've washed it of
I guess he will look like Dodo again.
my dear May" said her mother
"when you left your brother on the
grass while you ran for water for the
gypsy woman. went and brought him
in. He is now asleep in his crib.
am afraid you have been stealing g
baby yourself"