The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1900-10-05

Oh the pinck-eyed Stranger until She
was beside him.
"Yca are 50 good, I shall now feel
perfectly safe about my little darling.
! shall soon be baclk.r
Then she disappeared aud Merrivel,
found hlmsel; staring down upon the
big. covered basket she Ind thrust In
his hand. HABIT What Kind of a
game Is thic9 Her darling snowhow-
eri Her pr 'ous trusii Was the child
IN the baskS.s wna the child dead9
Was he to be involved In an ugly
mystery? His face i nched. A cold
sweat broke out on his forehead. He
could feel It trlclling down his cheeks.
He glnred wildly around. He sank
weakly down on the bench never re-
laSing his geip OF the heavy basket.
Should he cut for It and run? Would
not that arouse snspicions or-mer-
ciful heavens' Here was lone wray
n~ow-comiug directly towards him.
and looking sweet as a rose In her
thin summer gown and big leghom
hat. He was Wildly anxious that she
orid not see him, but she did. She
paused in some astonishment7 Arc
you mp" she asked. Il have never
seen you appear So" shs hesItated
for a word-"so disturbed" she on
cluded.
He staggered to his feet, still hold
ing hard the handle OF the basket in
his left hand IN Jerking of his hat
with his right.
Mono! I'm all right-at least"
Here something In the basket moved.
He glanced down In a panic. Iona's
bewildered gaze followed his. Did
that contain the mystery OF his pallor.
his excitement. his distracted air?
lists alive!" he said in a blood
curdling whisper.
He hastily set the basket down and
drew back.
What's %alive?" gasped Iona.
Her darling snowfower - tho
'childl' he pant |.
The child" repeated Iona with a
shrek. "A baby in that basket"
Her cry attracted the attention OF
the people hurrying for the trains.
Many paused. A crowd gathered-aug-
mented.
"Here-herel" cried a portly police
man Fastening up. What's all this
about?"
vIt's a child" "It's a babyl" ats
tied in that basket" Here's a loop
hole for airl" who does It belong
TOT" THE man was ~abducting IT,
Tn cries increased in number. Ex-
OF horror resounded. A
Of railway officials passed
through the throng. And meantime.
he basket rocked away on the bench
n an uncanny fashion that sent shiv-
'rs down the back OF the least imagi-
Il don't know anything es.pt i'll"
Protested Merrivell In an agonized
ball. "A lady gave It to me to hold
mill her return. T."
Lowering looks met his. A threat
ming srowl arose.
that's all right. sirl" grunted out
man apparently p~anoplied with au-
hority. We'll attend to you. Oficer.
'eep your y on this fellowl / am
DING to open this basket"
He whipped III a knife-bent down.
he curious crowd pressed closer. Not
ne OF that b~reathless mob moved as
he knife snipped-snipped along the
aut lines. Suddenly the lid was
upward. There was a cry from
he basket-not the cry of n child. 1t
'as a yelp. A woody white poodle
oked out his head and looked in
uisitively around.
The howl that went up from the OBJ
caused the hurrying suburban
les on the iron staircase to stand
ghast. The big policeman burst into
below. He took his hand from
.%errivell's arm. Iona laughed through
er frightened tears. And. Just when
be hubbub was at its height. a fran
woman burst through the throng.
he plowed her way to the bench. to !
he basket. her black Eyes flashing
re.
you are fine gentleman to trustl"
he screamed. She had turned OF
In a fury. Letting those
orrid railroad men see my Suniiow- ,
RI Now. they will not allow me to
AXE him in the passenger car! And
shall not have my beautiful little
I'VE shut IN in the baggage car! |
ave him the tiniest whiff OF chloro-
,rm to keep him quiet until we should
ave started / went away to get a
rife more. He would have slept the !
hole way. But you-you impostorl d
GU have betrayed mel You have '
Dused my confidence" She stormed J
way at a wonderful rate. 20. my :
pet!' she walled at last. .
the drowsy canine to her 0
osom, ITS astonishing that he didn't n
~ to steal you'll" Il
IL didn't know II was a dog!" a
Merrivell weakly. She flung n
around. what did you think c
was ?" she demanded. C
oak Park train-a-all aboard" Il
awled the starter. s.
Merrivell and Miss Wray sat to- n
all the way out. They laughed U
moderately. He was assured he o
light call. He did-in fact. he is still v
llling. To be explicit. there is a
NOR that-but this may be gossip.
INFLOW, the girls in the mail order
'partment smile when Iona's work II
hoo 49,. o., sho .l.tb .x.o1. .t.I. A HI