New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-16

The viragc hesitated. but at the sight or a
gold coin in Uncle Dicks fingers her slight
hesitation vanished
The mistake was quite possible. you see
said he. That is a little recompenss for the
trouble and fright have given you-ooth." hs
added. with an afterthought- Pats oeady eyes
gittered-
When his visitors had gone. Uncls Dick sat
for a long time lost IN thought. Then he rose.
his room into that occupied by klddia Alas!
poor little kiddie! IL was only q dream. after
all
He stood by her bedside watching hsr. Shs
lay with her thin face pillowed on one thin
hand. sleeping with a sInils on her tiny mouth
She moved and sighed. and Uncle Dick fancisd
he heard her murrnur his name
'Nobody's child" he thought What a wax
ening for the poor Ittls mite! 7 don't beltsvs
beat her? NObOdy's child. Shall give her
back? Mary would say no. Mary, my dear.
what 10 dol Shall send her back. walks her
from days dream and
The bearded man clenched his grsae tso-
mo. III be damned II 7 wiIlP' said Ia
The first customer at the sveet-.hop IN Little
Russell-st. the next morning was Dick Morri-
purchased not only the entire stock IN trads. bus
the contents OF the whole house.
You say she is nobody's childf"
Yes said the vtrago; "shs amt mine. any
ways She was left on my 'ands seven years
since. and amt likely to. neither. shs was
a.
Never mind what she waA VIII you ps-r
with KIddie?'
Well you see. seem as 'o~ she's that thers
useful IN the shop and IN the 'ouse''-
TN give you one hundred pounds for her.
said Uncle Dick. cutting her TRADE short A
shock head OF hair protruded itself IN az tho
door where It's owner had been listening.
I'm very fond OF Kiddie." whined the vtrago.
VERY fond o. whackiu' her. said Pat who
was not above playing the eaves1ropper. why,
she its 'er and beats 'er sOnethinx awful. str"
It's you. Is it?" said Uncle Dick. cheerily.
EerrF sic Of T1rfN
forget her assumed part and TO greet his inter-
ference with an exhibition OF language and
temper that made Dick Mortimer shiver. He
laid bundle OF Bank OF England notes upon
the counter.
You don't want herr do" he said. quietly
I've made I'D my mind to keep her. Count
those notes. please. I will send my solicitor 70
you with the necessary papers for you to sign"
Pat stared at the pair open eyed. but with a
lump IN his throat that had never come there
before He as yet only dimly realized what
was happening
The virago's eyes gIisteued, and her bony
hands clutched the notes greedily-
'AU right she said Take the brat and
welcome She's been nothing but plague
and a nuisance 10 me-
An hour later Kiddie and her Uncle Dick were
having breakfast together az the Golden Cres-
cent Hotel
"An dream. Kiddie-nog' Uncle Dick was
saying. What have here? Kidneys-ars
they dreamsT Bacon-is that a dream?'
And. Uncle Dick!' said Riddle. getting or
her chair TO throw her thin arms round his
neck for the twentieth time.
The other Kiddie-the real Riddle? Dick
Mortimer. by the aid OF a cute detective found
her month later; but IL was In dingy Lon
don churchyard. where she had been lying, poor
little mite, for three years Simple hearted
Dick shed few tears over her tiny grave and
went back 10 the living Riddle. who had crept
so strangely into his life.
But up in a garnet near the Walworth Road
ragged boy with a shock head ia sobbing a.
II his heart would break. He realizes Il All a.
last He knows he will never his sweet
heart. Kiddie, axain--SBlack and White