The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-23

"She is a little better, nurse, is she notf"
the mother asked anxiously.
Il think so, madam. This is the first time
she has awakened since o'clock. You had
better rest while she Is asleep"
II cannot bear to leave her. If that child
were my own flesh and blood, could not love
her more. She was brought by the police
to the Orphan asylum of the Gray Nuns in
Montreal one day when Mr.. Rogers and l
were visiting the institution. She has brought
such happiness into our lives! The evenings
we have spent at home during the two years
We have had Gladys have been more than
all the rest of my life to me-.
Both sat in silence. Ten minutes passed,
and the burglar beneath the bed was getting
restless. The mother was speaking slowly
again, as if in thought:
Poor little darling! The police say her
mother a wretched creature and the
father confirmed criminal, brute OF man.
Both were serving a term in prison when we
took baby Think of it, nurse-a sweet, in
nocent little tot like that from such parents!
La Roche, l think their name was. They
know nothing of the childs whereabouts"
Tears glistened in the woman's eyes as she
looked tenderly and yearningly at the sleep
ing baby and left the room.
The nurse fingered few moments by the
child's cot Then she turned the light very
low and stole back to the adjoining room.
Later heavy breathing told the burglar be-
meath the sick child's bed that the household
was asleep once more, but for how long?
He crawled out stealthily, but did not has
ten from the ROOM While yet in kneeling
posture, very gently he raised the chids
tiny hands and kissed them passionately, then
reached over and kissed the fevered fore
head. smile passed over the little ones
| face The child was evidently dreaming.
ME loves mama,' she murmured il her
sleep. -.
A tear fell on the baby's curly head.
20 God, what punishment!'
With look of unutterable anguish the thief
hastily slipped from the room and down TO
| the stairway. a-
| Some one was ascending the stairs. The
burglar ran to the nearest window and ire
| escape. There were piercing scream and
| crash. The man the stairs, startled,
| reached to his hip pocket but all was silent
again except for a low groan which rose from
| the court below. He hurried to the head OF
! the stairs and peered out into the darkness.
The railing Of the fire escape was broken,
! but that was all he could see.
..Listen," said the doctor. who had just
| entered. Some one is hurt
| Burglars" whispered the other. BE care
full. doctor. Wait moment, and I'll go down
| with you
The two men reached the court below
| Feeble groans came from the angle near the
| gateway.
Who's there?'' asked the doctor. Are you
| nurt! Strlke a match, MT Rogers.
| On the couch in the library they stretched
| the unconscious form of the burglar.
| He'll not get over this in hurry poor
| devil! Call up thee hospital for ambulance,
| Mr. Rogers
| The man went to the phone and the doc
| tor turned on more light. Lifting the burg
! lars head, he looked closely into his face.
| ''Whew'' he whistled. Then. he heard
| Rogers returning, he lowered the lights. Il
! will go with this poor fellow to the hospital.
| I'd like to watch his case
| In a few moments the changing Of gong
told of the arrival Of the ambulance.
| The women are nervous. You had better
| stay with Them" he said. Tell them the
fellow is all right-anything not to excite
them
! MAY, DEAR, said the husband next morn
ing as his wife entered the breakfast room
| after visit to the sick chamber, how IS
Gladys?'
Much better. The temperature has fallen,
and she will surely get well now
At the same hour the house surgeon on
duty at st. Johns hospital was looking over
entry in the record book. It read
Gertrude Dressler, alias Mrs. Theodore La
Roche alias Ned Davis, criminal; killed by
fall from the third story OF the residence Of
James Rogers, Boulevard D, while in the act
of burglarizing the place; was dressed In male
attire: age, 81: nationality, French Canadian;
relatives-husband serving life sentence, Mon
tana; daughter confined in orphan asylum,
| Montreal.