The Afro-American advance., 1900-10-06

right.
"No-noi I'm all right-at least"
Here something in the basket moved.
He glanced down in panic. lona's be.
wildered gaze followed his. Did that
contain the mystery OF his pallor, his
excitement. his distracted air?
"lt's-it's alive!" he said, in a blood
curdling whisper.
He hastily set the basket down and
drew back.
What's alive? ?" gaSped Iona.
Her darling Snowfiower -- the
child!" he painted.
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. whats all this
about?'
ITS a child!" ITS a baby!" ITS
tied in that basket" Here's a loop.
hole for air!" "Who does II belong tor"
THE man was abducting it'll"
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.
II don't know anything about I'll"
protested Merrivell in an agonized wall.
IA lady gave it to me to hold until her
return. /"
Lowering looks met his. A threaten
ing growl arose.
That's all right, sir!" grunted out
man apparently panoplied with au.
thority. Wen attend to you. on
Ger, keep your eye on this fellow! !
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 snipped-snipped along the
taut lines. Suddenly the lid was jerked
upward. There was a cry from the
basket-not the cry of child. 1t 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
below. He took his hand from Mer-
rivell's arm. Iona laughed through her
frightened tears. And. just when the
hubbub was at It's 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 a fine gentleman to trusti"
she screamed. She had turned on Mer-
rivell in fury Letting those horrid
railroad men see my Snowhower! Now.
they will not allow me to take him in
the passenger carl And l shall not
have my beautiful little love shut up
in the baggage carl ! gave him the
tiniest Whit OF choloform TO keep him
quiet until we should have started.
went away to get a trifle more. He
would have slept the whole wayi But
you--you impostor! You have be-
trayed mel You have abused my con-
fldenoe!" She stormed away at won
derful rate. 20, my precious pet!" she
walled at last, catching the drowsy
canine to her bosom, "it's astonishing
that he didn't try to steal youi"
II didn't know it was dog!" pro-
tested Merrivell, weakly. She flung
fiercely around. What did you think
it wasp" she demanded.
Whereat the crowd roared again.
"Oak Park train-a-ll aboard"
bawled the starter.
Merrivell and Miss Wray sat together
all the way out. They laughed i'm.
moderately. He was assured he might
call. He did--in fact. he is still call.
ing. To be explicit, there is a rumor
that-but this may be gossip Any.
how, the girls in the mail order de.
partment smile when Iona's work takes
her to the cloth goods aisle. And Wits
fellow-workers are guying him for TAX.
ing down Navajo blue when she asked
for sunburnt rose. At all events, these
young people seem TO be happy to-
gether on their free Saturday after.
Moons. Best Of all. Bobby, by some
mysterious process, has been concili.
ated. As a chaperon. self-satisfed.
ubiquitous and decidedly supcrfuous,
he merits commendation, and gets
nickels, dimes. and sometimes even
quarters.-Chicago Tribune.
Murnhvs. IafeIi8ueaf puu