The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-09-28

30 deep was he in the delicious dream
ne did not perceive the return of the
black-eyed stranger until she was close
beside him.
"'You are so kindi L shall now feel
perfectly safe about my little darling.
l shall soon be back!"
Then she disappeared, and Merrivell
found himself staring down upon the
big, covered basket she had thrust in
his hand. Halo! What kind of a game
was this? Her darling Snowfower!
Her precious trustl Was the child in
the basket? Was the child dead? Was
he to be involved in an ugly mystery?
His face blanched. A cold sweat broke
out on his forehead. He could feel it
trickling down his cheeks. He glared
wildly around. He sank weakly down
on the bench, never relaxing his grip
OF the heavy basket. Should he cut for
1t and run? Wouldn't that arouse sus-
picion? Or-mercifuI heavens! Here
was Iona Wray now-coming directly
towards him, and looking sweet as
rose in her thin summer gown and big
leghorn hat. He was wildly anxious
that she should not see him. but she
did. She paused in some establishment.
''Are you ill?'' she asked. "Ihave never
seen you appear So" she hesitated for
wOrd-''so disturbed" she concluded.
He staggered to his feet, still holding
hard the handle of the basket in his left
hand and jerking off his hat with his
right.
Mono! I'm all right-at least"
Here something in the basket moved.
He glanced down in panic Iona's be-
wildered gaze followed his. Did that
contain the mystery of his pallor, his
excitement, his distracted air?
Visits alive!" he said, in a blood
curdling whisper.
He hastily set the basket down and
drew back.
whats alive?'' gasped Iona.
'Her darling Snowfower - the
child" he painted.
THE child" repeated Iona, with a
shrek. GA baby in that basket"
Her cry attracted the attention of
the people hurrying for the trains.
Many paused. A crowd gathered-aug-
mented.
"Here--here!" cried a portly police
man fastening up. whats all this
about?"
Its a child!'' "It's baby!" ITS
tied in that basket" Here's a loop
hole for air!" "Who does it belong to ?"
''The man was abducting it,"
The cries increased in number. Ex-
carnations of horror resounded. A
couple of railway officials passed
through the throng. And meantime
the basket rocked away on the bench
in an uncanny fashion that sent shiv-
ers down the back of the least imagina-
! tive.
Il don't know anything about it,"
protested Merrivell in an agonized wall.
GA lady gave it to me to hold until her
return. I"
Lowering looks met his A threaten
ing growl arose.
That's all right, sir!" grunted out
man apparently panoplied with au-
thority. "WeIl attend to you. Off
GER, keep your eye on this fellow! I
am going to open this basket"
He whipped out knife-bent down.
The curious crowd pressed closer. Not
one of that breathless mob moved as
the knife nipped-snipped along the
taut lines. Suddenly the lid was jerked
upward. There was a cry from the
basket-not the cry of a child Il was a
yelp. A woolly white poodle poked out
his head and looked inquisitively
around.
The howl that went up from the OBJ
servers caused the hurrying suburban
! ties on the iron staircase to stand
aghast. The big policeman burst into
a below. He took his hand. from Mer-
rivelPs arm. Iona laughed through her
frightened tears. And, just when the
hubbub was at its height, a frantic
woman burst through the throng She
plowed her way to the bench. to the
basket, her black eyes flashing fire.
you are fine gentleman to trustI"
she screamed. She had turned on MeP-
rivell in a fury. Letting those horrid
railroad men see my Snowfower! Now,
they will not allow me to take MIN In
the passenger car! And 1 shall not
! nave my Ocduli1ul .llIble love smut up
in the baggage car! / gave him the
tiniest Whit of choloform to keep'bim
quiet until we should have started. 1
went away to get a trife more. He
would have slept the whole way! But
you-you impostor! You have be-
trayed me! You have abused my con-
| fidence." She stormed away at a won
derful rate. 30, my precious pet!" she
walled at last, catching the drowsy
canine to her bosom, Its astonishing
that he didn't try to steal youl"
Il didn't know ii was dog!v pro-
tested Merrivell, weakly. She flung
fiercely around. what did you think
it was ?" she demanded.
Whereat the crowd roared again.
soak Park train-a-ll a-b-oard!"
! bawled the starter.
Merrivell and Miss Wray sat together
all the way out. They laughed inn
moderately. He was assured he might