The Press., 1903-08-20

pumped into Dy Mamie Reagan, VINO
was running down at breakneck speed.
'sThey amt found her yet" was her
excited salutation. .I'm goin' out
again. Yer aunts carryin' on awful"
Eilen's heart seemed to stop beating.
She grasped at Mamie Reagan's dress
and opened her mouth, but Mamie had
resumed her headlong flight.
Ellen tottered up the rest Of the
stairs. her ears assailed as she neared
the door of their rooms by means with
In and the sound of Mrs. Reagan's
voice.
'"There. now" she was saying, don't
take ON SO. Mamie Reagan III find her.
She's n reg'lar detective. tell yer.
There. she'll be back in a minute. All
the cops OH the beat knows Gwendo-
leen." Then, as she caught sight of Ell
len, Lord. what II do with her"
"Now it's oil right" she began, shak-
ing bottle Of household ammonia at
Ellen.
Ellen crossed the room to her aunt.
"When did you miss her? she asked
81 just went In Mis- Reagan's ROOM"
explained Aunt Julia. II wanted her
to keep the baby carriage Miss Van
Tassel had-sent till Christmas. l had
my bonnet all on
when did you miss herT' broke in
the stern young voice.
Aunt Julia sat up and put her hand
to her head.
"It was o'clock or maybe half past
remember because our clock had
struck Z. and 1t always
Had you promised to take her to
any placer
1--WE was goin' to the park-she'd
been tellin' me that foolishness ye'd
told her about the snow fairies and
Aunt Julia's voice rose to sobbing
wall as Ellen turned and left the room
without explanation or comment.
She dashed down the stairs at a
speed that rivaled Mamie Reagan's
and started on mad run west.
"She may have found her way there"
she muttered to herself.
A messenger boy. two newsboys, a
nursemaid with her charge, man
with a suit case and pretty young
woman with her hands in big muf
formed an unconsciously interesting
group about a small solitary figure.
Blue defiant eyes looked out of white
face from under a wide bonnet frill
and two little white mittens were dou-
bled up by tense baby fists. Ellen
bore down on this group. Intuition,
instinct. sister heart. all told her that
here was the Lady Gwendolyn. She
pushed aside the newsboys, stepped on
the messengers toes and knocked
against the suit case.
"GwendOleen"
"Nellen, my Nellenv' came from the
depths of the white bonnet. The Lady
Gwendolyn was caught up into fierce
embrace and the cut hand. needless of
wound and bandage, pressed the little
head close to "Nellen's' heart.
"She ought to be discharged" said
the pretty young woman.
"Geer' said the messenger boy.
you'll be In luck If you don't get de
bounce fer dis"
Ellen looked wonderingly from one
to another. Then it rushed over her
she was Gwendolyn's nurse. The baby
sister had been taken for lady-a real
lady.
"Yes. ma'am," she said meekly to
the young woman. ''I'll be more care
full another time"
Taking u firm hold ON the little hand,
she addressed the small figure in clear
and distinctly humble tones.
"Come. Miss Gwendoleen," she said.
eyer aunt will be worryin' about yer"
The Lady Gwendolyn obediently trot-
ted off by her nurses side.
Half block away smart brough-
am was dashing toward them. There
was glimpse of a sable collar, an
ugly, kind face. and 1t had stopped.
The footman jumped over the wheel.
the carriage door was opened and the
big voice of Miss Van Tassel called:
"Well, If here isn't the little sister
and the big one too! The whole Ryan
family In a bunch! Bundle 'em in,
Thomas and We'll drive 'em home"
Tom bundled 'em in," closed the
door and sprang to the box. Just at
that proud moment the man with the
suit case and the young woman with
the big muff came into sight.
The Lady Gwendolyn. confidence re-
stored, smiled at them through the
open window, and Ellen, rigid and
erect on the very edge of the cushions,
reflected the smile respectfully.