Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-07
The Daily Short Story
LOST CHILD.
"where did you find she kid, DOugher-

"Where did you find che kid, Dougher-
ty?"
II didn't. 1t found me. L guess its
nanny was a-shoppin', and IL must
have walked out of a store. Anyhow
/ never caught sight Of it until IL trot-
ted out into the street and took hold of
ny hand. 1 waited round with 1t a long
time, hopin' its nanny would come.
for it. and then brought it here"
'Blame me, il it amt the dandiest
youngster ever clapped eyes on put
N the sergeant as the absurd little hand
patted the silver star on the sergeant's
coat.
Seems to be we'll logged out too.
Amt no ordinary, everyday lid, judgin'
by it's Clothes"
The object of this conversation now
held UP its short little arWs and
wrinkled up its face. The tiny lips be-
gan to culver as no move was made to
take it.
BLAMED if 1 dare hold you'll" said
the sergeant I'D break you some
where or let you drop, and then
where'd you be?''
Dougherty took the bundle OF white
where the sapphire eyes looked out and
blinked merrily at the passersby. The
sergeant shifted and blew his nose
vigorously. He had suddenly remem-
bered that many years ago DoUgherty
had lost his three children IL some
frightful accident
The plump fingers ran along the win
dow glass, and the white hooded head
nodded at the stream of people that
hurried by. But no one noticed, and
Dougherty was about to plan some
new amusement when n well dressed
man caught sight of the baby's face
and then, nervous and excited, ran into
the station house.
How came this child here?" he de-
manded. almost fiercely. as he took the
little creature into his arms and press
ed kisses on the dimpled fists. Il am
the child's father. Tell me quickly
how cauIe she here"
NO. 40 found it in the middle Of the
street" answered the sergeant, refer
ring to the register. 1T was at the cor
ner of and NJ. in the busiest part OF
the shopping district
MY God, It's a wonder she wasn't
crushed to death by the cars or tram
pied under horses hoofs.''
There was II hurried opening of the
station house door, the rustic OF silken
skirts. and Il white faced, trembling
woman appeared. At sight of the man
and child she stood as if too bewildered
and paralyzed to speak. Then the
bundle of lace and the white hood and
the small shoes began to wiggle and
in
baby was running toward its mother.
who now was softly weeping. She
cIasped the child I'm her arms, and the
sergeant noticed that DOugherty drew
his rough sleeve over his eyes and then
hurriedly left the room.
1t seemed strange, thought the SER
geant. that the mother and father of
the child appeared so distant. He was
still more bewildered when the child's
father lifted his hat and said. shall 1
take Muriel to the carriage?" and the
mother answered, half audibly, If you
will be so kind"
Then they thanked the sergeant for
his kindness and passed out into the
sunshine.
At the carriage door the man assisted
his wife into the vehicle and then
handed the baby TO her. She nodded
her head i'll silent thanks. He again
lifted his hat and was soon lost in the
crowd of passersby.
That night a woman with a Lslvy.
sorrowful heart knelt by one side of
her baby's cradle and wept bitterly.
For the first time in several weeks
IL 70 nil Hn
whom she had loved and married, the