The Cairo bulletin., 1905-08-28
CHAPTER XIV.


- WIN the string. ana then to
Aaye 1t snatched from you by an imp
iSh breeze and blown away, goodness
knows wherei
don't know Just which way turned
after | left that station. | didn't care
where | went. Nothing could think
Of gave me any comfort. tried to
fancy myself coming home to you.
tried to see myself going down to tell
the whole thing to Obermuller. But ]
couldn't do that. There was only one
thing ! wanted to say to Fred Ober-
muller, and that thing | couldn't say
aow.
But Nance Olden's not the girl to go
round long like Noting hen. There
was only one chance in hundred. and
that was the one took, Of course.
Back to the square where you found
the baby. Nance!" | cried to myself
There's the chance that that admirable
dragon has had her suspicious aroused
by your connection with the baby. which
she hadn't known before, and has al
ready dntifully notified the sergeant
There's the chance that the baby is
home by now and the paper found by
her mother will be turned over to her
papa; and then it's good-by TO your
scheme. There's the chance that"
But in the heart Of me didn't be-
fieye In any chance but one--the chance
that Id find that blessed baby and get
my fingers just once more on that pre-
cious paper.
blew in the A. D. g nickel on a cross.
town car and got back to the little
square. There was another organ
grinder there grinding out coon songs,
70 which other pickaninnies danced.
But nary a little white bundle of fluff
caught hold Of my hand. walked that
square TIL my feet were sore. 1t was
hot. My throat was parched. was
hungry. My head ached. was hope.
less And vet inst couldn't give 1t up
had asked SO many children and nurse
maids whether they'd heard Of the baby
lost that morning and brought back BY
an ofacer, that they began to look at
me ~ though | was not quite right In
my mind The maids grabbed the chill
dren II they started To come near me,
and the children stared at me with big
round eyes, as though they'd been told
was an ogre who might eat them.
! was hungry enough to- The little
fruit stand at the entrance had fascin-
alton for me, found myself there time
and again, till got afraid | might
actually try to get off with peach or
q bunch Of grapes. That thought haunt
cd me Fancy Nance Olden starved and
laundering into the cheapest and most
easily detected species Of thieving!
| suppose great generals In their hour
of defeat imagine themselves doing the
feeblest, foolishest things. AS sat
there On the bench, gazing before me,
saw the whole thing Nancy Olden
after all her Dragging, her skirmishing
her hairbreadth scapes and successes
arrested in broad daylight and before
witnesses for having stolen a cool, wet
bunch OF grapes, worth nickel for
her hot dry, hungering throat! saw
the policeman that'd do It'll he looked
like that Sergeant Mulhill | met way,
way back in Latimer's garden. saw
the officer that'd receive me. he had
blue eyes like the detective that came
for me to the Manhattan. | saw the
woman jailer-oh. she was the A D.,
all right. who'd receive me without the
slightest emotion. show me to cell and
lock the door. as calm, as little triumph.
ant or affected, as though hadn't once
ontwitted that cleverest OF creatures
and outwitted myself In forestalling
her. saw
Mag. guess what | saw! No truly;
what I really saw? 1t made me jump
70 my feet and grab 1t with squeal.
! saw my own purse lying on the
gravel almost at my feet near the little
fruit stand that had tempted me.
Blank empty 1t was. stripped clean,
not penny left In It, not paper, not
stamp, rot even my key. Just the same
was glad to have It, IT linked me ID
a way to the place The clever little
Girl that had stolex 1t had been here
In this park on this very spot. The
thought OF that cute young Nance Olden
distracted my mind minute from my
worry oh, Maggie darlin', / was
worrying so!
IA walked UP 10 the fruit stand with
the purse In my hand. The old fellow
who Kent Il looked up with an inviting
smile. Lord knows, he needn't have
encouraged me to buy II la had penny
asi"I want 70 ask YOU | said, ~ you
remember selling lot OF good things
70. a little girl who had a purse this
this morning.
| showed II to him. and he. turned IL
over ~ his crippled old hands
IT was full then or fuller, anyway"
suggested.
You wouldn't want to get her into
trouble--that little girl?" he asked, 4
cautiously.
J laughed. Mott. myself"
! was going to Say we'll you can
imagine what ! was going to say, and
that didn't say It or anything like 1t.
'Weli~-there she Is, Kitty Wilson,
over yonder," he said
] gasped. II was 50 unexpected. And
! turned to look. There On one OF the
benches sat Kitty Wilson. II / hadn't
been blind AZ a bat and full OF trouble
oh. Y ihickens your wits, does trouble
and blinds your ewes and muffiea vour