The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-03
A Precious Trust.

| Wray, who was in the mail order de-
partment. and who frequently came 10
him, In his position as manager OF the
| cloth department, to match samples or
/ order goods. On one OF these occasions
| he discovered that Iona lived in the
| same suburb as he did. He found out.
| too, that they generally went out CT the
| city at the same hour, on the same
train On learning which mis- spirits rose
like toy balloon.
! But, then, Merrivell was extremely sus-
ceptfble. If he had rot been 50 suscepti-
BILE 1t is quite unlikely that he would
have been connded with precious trust.
| And II he had not been selected for the
honor conferred upon him he and Iona
might never have proceeded beyond the
boundaries where the courtesi5s Of cas-
! uai acquaintance cease. Indeed, she did
not feel sufficiently familiar with him to
mention the fact Of her intention to stay
an hour later in town than usual on one
particular occasion, although she had
come down TO Merrivell that morning
! for six yards of lavender broadcloth to
| be sent to a lady living in Arizona.
| She did not enter the Northwestern de-
pot at her ordinary hour, although VIII
paced up and down just without the
! railing, and watched the great gates I'M
| til his train had come and gone. Surely
| she would be here before tie next train
was due to leave. The thought of sitting
beside her as the train rushed out Of
the smoky city into the beautiful green
! suburbs was delightful. He might even
! get UP courage TO ask to call And If
| permitted 10 90 so, how kind he would
/ be TO Bobby--if only Bobby would keep
! still about their little alteration. Bobby
| had stretched a string across the side
walk. Merrivell running for the train,
/ had fallen over 1t and skinned his sh rs.
| Observing the cuprit, he had promptly
| grabbed him and given him chastlse-
ment brief but effective. Confound it,
How was he to know that the little red
headed wretch was the brother Of this
charming girl? He would fall over
strings all the way from Melrose to
State streets, if only
Il beg your pardon, madam"
His hat was III his hand and he was
bowling profoundly to lady with whom
! he had almost collided when he had
! turned so abruptly in his impetuous
walk
DO not mention itT' cried the lady.
who was young and pale ard of almost
| tragic appearance. She was handsome,
TOO. but evidently grief was responsible
for the wild EXPIRE sion of large black
eyes and the piteous trembling OF her
lips. She wore deep mourning. She was
apparently a foreigner. But you will
| help me, sir? ! am in desperation. Two
hours from now ! take a train to the
West. came down here TO make ar
rangements for leaving. At my hotel I
forgot some important papers. 1 must
return at once and secure them. In the
meantime may beg OF you to undertake
the care Of my darling Snowfiower 1t
is precious trust and one which I
would not conide to every stranger. Is
this asking too much, STRIP
Merrivell the susceptible, Merrivell the
gallant, bowed still more cautiously II
am honored," he assured her, highly
hCnored! Consider me at your serv;ce!'
He felt jubilant. This was an opportu-
nifty. Now, when Iona Wray arrived,
she would see with what gentleness,
with what tenderness he cared for this
child Of a stranger! She would appreci-
ate Gil the lovely depths of his sympa-
THY! She would be incredulous Of the
statements OF that red-headed Bobby.
She might even think Bobby deserved
corporal approval And when she pass
ed through the gates alone what a lin
gering glance would sch not send back
to him where he sat caring for the child
of a lonely young widow! He would
smile sadly in answer, and she would
realize that It was only his sense Of chv-
airy which kept him from her side.
Merriver found himself staring down
upon the big, covered basket she had
thrust in his hand. Halloi What kind
of a game was this? Her darling Snow
flower! Her precious trust was the
child in the basket? Was the child
dead? Was he 10 be involved in an ug.y
mystery? His face blanched. 4 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 relax
ing his grip of the heavy basket Should
he cut for it and run? Wouldn't that
arouse suspicion? Or-merciful heavensi
Here was Iona Wray now-coming di-
rectly towards him and looking sweet
as a rose in her thin summer gown and
big leghorn hat. was wildly anxious
that she should not see him. but she
did. She paused In some establishment.
Are you ill?" she asked 'I have never
seen you appear So" she hestated for
a word-"so disturbed" she concluded.
He staggered y his feet, still hold ny
hard the handle Of the basket in his left
hand and 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 Tomas be-
tain the mystery Of his pallor, his ex-
citement. his distracted air?
''Its-it's 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 childr'
re painted
''The child" repeated Iona with a
49,,
Her cry attracted the attention Of the
people hurrying for the trains Many
paused. a crowd Eathered-augm
"Here-here"' cried a portly police
man, Fastening up. What's all this
about?''
IT'S a chiId"' IT'S baby" IT'S
tied in that basket Here's a loop
hole for airi' Who does IL belong tor
''TheAman was. a.A3aqting i,Tas
The cries inersssed n. NUMBER Ex-
CARNATIONS Of horror resounded. cou-
PIE Of railway officials passed through
the thronE. And meantime The asket
rocked away on the bench In an uncanny
fashion that sent shivers down The back .
Of the least imaginative.
81 don't know anything about it, pro
tested Merriven in an aEoEizsd wall "A
lady gave Il to me 20 hold until her re-
turn. I"
Lowering looks met his. A threat=niag /
grTwl arose.
That's all right. SIR grunted ont 4
man apparently pa-oplIed with author
ity. wen attend . you. Oficer keep
your ere OF IRIS fellow! I an going T.
OPEN this basket"
He whipped ont knifs-bs1t down.
The Curi-l. crowd pressed closer Not
one - thai b-eathiess nob moved -
the knife snlpoed-snipVa6 81 NJ ne tau.
ward. There vas er1y from fhs has
tet-not the cry a chi15 Z was a