Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-06
CHAPTER XVI.
On Track.

and see whether they're taking toeelhei
| or not" and she started off.
mo, no, Daisy" called Nettie, please,
| please don't &c after them"
Daisy stopped and turned around.
II tell you he's dreadful boy" continued
| Nettie. "and you'd better keep away from
him. I'm going home just as fast as ever
| I can," and, turning about, she broke into a
| run. There was nothing left for Daisy but
| to follow after, and they reached the cor
ner near Daisy's house very much out OF
| breath Here they paused a moment. how
| ever, and parted with their usual good ma
| ture.
When Nettie reached home she found her
| mamma there before her.
| Il have some lovely news for you, she
| said; 1.-The doctor, who keeps the sanl-
tarium. was at the library this afternoon
| and 1 invited him into my office to have
| talk with him. He says Miss Verro Is SO
much improved that she is going to leave
| the sanitarium in about week. Think OF
| that!'
| 20. mamma, I am ever so glad; but l
| should be a great deal gladder If we could
only find Topsy before Miss Verro comes
| back to Mrs. Mullard's."
| IT am afraid there is but little hope or
| that" said Mrs Howells. Miss Brady, the
| one who teaches school, you know, was also
in the library today, and she says her
| father keeps a sharp lookout for Topsy.
| But, whoever has her is too shrewd TO
| bring her to the park. which makes me
|
| stolen. If she had just run away and some
| one had picked her up, they wouldn't be SO
| careful about keeping her hidden. MISS
| Brady said her father suggested mat MISS
| Verro advertise in the papers that she
would give $25 to any one that brought
| Topsy back
20. 1 am sure Miss Verro would give that
| much; don't you think so, mamma!
| Eyes, indeed, do
| But whoever stole her will be afraid to
return her. for fear he'll get punished.
| Not If it is stated in the advertisement,
| no questions asked; then the thief VIII
| know that he will not be discovered, you
see."
Nettie then told about the bad Boy
passing Mrs Mullards house, adding:
| And I Just believe Joe, the bellboy,
knows something about where Topsy is Tor
| he ran after that Bad Boy as hard as ever
| he could
Mrs. Howells then asked Nettie a few
| questions.
Now, my child" she said, firmly you
| must not suspect Joe on such shght
| grounds; unless you have seen him taking
| to the other boy you have no reason TO
| think he knows anything about 1t. SO get
| those thoughts out of your little head as
| quickly as possible; and now we will have
| our supper, and this evening, as L nave TO
go back to the library for an hour or So
| you may go with me. There is a new book
of fairy tales there that you will enjoy,
know
1t was nearly 8 O. clock on the same even
ing when MIS-. HOWeilS ana Nelllt Went up
stairs on their return from the library.
When they came to the last flight they saw
boy sitting on the top step. In the dim
light (the electric jet was some distance
clearly. But, as they came near, he arose
and took off his hat: then they saw 1t was
joe Mrs. Mullard's bellboy.
II have note for you from Mrs Null
lard" he said, politely. THE 1anitor tod
me you would be at home by clock so
waited here for you. L had strict orders TO
give the note to no one else, and to wait
until you had read it,
When Mrs Howells had turned on the
light in her own room and given Joe seat
she tore open the note and this was what
she read:
Mrs. Howells:
story to tell you, which, am sure. will in
terest you, and as 1 have never known him
to speak falsely, am equally sure you may
RELY upon It's truth. Sincerely yours,
ANNA MULLARD."
With look that was somewhat reproach-
full Mrs. Howells handed this note to Netue,
and taking a chair near Joe, said, with
smile
$50 you have a story to tell me?'
Joe cleared his throat and began:
You see Mrs Howells, this was my
afternoon off, so l went home to see the
folks: but they didn't live where they used
to- They've moved into the wing of a house
on Cherry street, and
But at this point Nettie arose and came
toward Joe. There was one question tndl
she was determined to ask him, and she be-
gan to fear that he would soon be too deep
in his story for interruption. So she said,
eagerly:
Did YOU stop and talk to that big boy?"
What big boy?' said the surprised Joe.
Il don't know who he is, but he turned
the corner just before you did. You must
have seen him."
him, but 1 didn't stop and talk to him, II
that's what you want to know. He said
'halloa' to me as ran by him, but didn't
like his looks, and as l had my week S
wages in my pocket, pretended not to hear
him; but it's that very boy that my story
is about
90" said Nettie land he is the very boy
that tried to steal Topsy away from me-"
"Therev exclaimed Joe. jumping up In
great excitement, then that makes the
thing all clear; now am certain OF what
only suspected before"
90 do please go on and tell US all about
it," said Nettie. jumping up and down in
her eagerness. Have you seen Topsy?''
well, no. not exactly" replied Joe, with
a laugh as he sat down again. Il rather
think If "a seen her Miss Verro would have
had her before this time. But I'll go on
with my story. AS I was hurrying along !
saw boy go into house about block
ahead of me, and he was carrying some
thing in his arms. I couldn't make out
what it was, but there was little black
bunch that looked just like Topsy's head.
WE'LL kept my eye on the house and when
L
on it that mother had told me they moved
to. AS I went up the steps the boy l had
seen go into the house was looking oat the
window; but the first thing l heard when 1
got inside the hall was dog barking some
where, and it sounded like Topsy. But l
went on into mothers room. in the wing,
and, just as soon as could, asked about
the people in the other part. Mother didn
know much about them, but she said they
had the prettiest little dog, and that the boy
took it out to walk every day. AS soon as
she said that 1 went to the front window
and sat down, for 1 thought perhaps, L
might get my eye on Topsy. Than l asked
mother if those people knew where work
ed, and she said o. yes told them that
the day we moved In; and just she said
that 1 saw the big boy that 1 had passed
cross the street and come into the other
part of the house. This set to thinking
pretty hard for. of course, 1 had not Tor
gotten that he had called to me as / ran
past him.
And didn't you see Topsy at all?'' asked
Nettic, eagerly.
mo. 1 watched every minute until dark
"Of course" said Mrs Howells. that big
boy, whoever he is, knew you were there
and wouldn't let them take Topsy out
They are very sharp, but We'll have her all
right, yet"
AFTER dark" continued Joe, lone of my
brothers went into the yard to get a pail