The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-07-11

the NOW dIdTlneu young HdH. us All
FOOLS Day and I'm one of them. l
put him in your hall two hours ago
and it's strange he hasn't cried"
He never was in this house, for
Maggie was cleaning on the hall most
of the afternoon" said Dorothy posi-
lively. l remember she didn't get
through this morning and swept there
right after Florence and the children
went away. What on earth will your
sister say?"
You really are not joking?" And
the cold chills ran over the delinquent
uncle. Where do you suppose he a
be? Some n must have kidnapped
him, for / could swear | put him in
your hall. / certainly must have lost
my few wits to think of such a brain
less scheme
You've got to find him at once.
Maggie! Maggie! Did you see any.
thing of Bobbie Carver? Mr.. Hender-
son brought him over here for a joke
and put him in the hall about n
O'Clock, but | didn't see anything OF
him.
Neither did l." said Maggie, look
ing with contempt at the pale joker.
Maybe he's only jokin' now
Richard! Is it possible you would
excite me like this? Aren't you
ashamed % yourself? | don't care IL
it is the first of April, you have no
right to tell us "a"
What's that?' asked Maggie, excit-
eddy, as a young girl came out of the
next house and got into a cab with a
bundle that looked suspiciously like a
baby. Grace Richards is goin' away
with some sort of a bundle. Mebby
you got into the wrong house"
The very thing!' screamed Doro-
thy. The two houses are exactly
alike and you might easily make that
mistake, being a stranger in town.
Hurry! Hurry! Don't let her get out
Of sight"
Down the street In the pelting rain
rushed the excited young man, and a
short distance behind came Dorothy,
scarcely less agitated. Richard was
h~atless, but he paid not a bit of atten-
ton to, that fact as he splashed
through the middle of the street, keep
ing the cab in sight. Just why Dorothy
followed she could not have explained,
but with dainty silk skirts clutched in
both hands she flew over the wet
walks, while Maggie and putting Mary
brought up the rear.
You say this child was left upon
your steps" the mayor was saying just
as Richard flung himself up the steps
of the office. will you kindly make
a statement of the facts to the officer
before you leave?" He lifted the howl
ing Robert in his motley garb and
vainly tried to soothe i'm.
THAT isn't Robbed" cried Dorothy,
bursting in at that instant. Richard!
Have you lost your senses? The idea
Of that beggar child being your
nephew! You are wasting time!"
In his patched and faded garments
poor little Robert certainly did look
like a waif, but Richard undertook to
officers. Il did it for a joke!" he said
over and over again. "Of course that's
Bob Carver. Don't give him anything
to eat or drink out of that dirty tin,"
for one of the bystanders was offering
the baby milk out of the Office drink
ing cup His mother is very particu-
lar about his diet"
Young man. said the chief of po-
lice, now thoroughly angry, you can
consider yourself under arrest! We
will have 10 more such fooiishness.
Evidently you are a candidate for the
Jail or asylum, and you'll get a stiff
sentence if you don't sit down and be
still" Then turning TO Miss Kenneth
he said: Where is Mrs. Carver? At
a reception? III go after her and see
about this being her child"
Miss Richards departed %serenely to
the reception and ten minutes later
Mrs. Carver, on the verge of Mysteries,
was ushered in by the officer. Mary
and Maggie had also reached the
scene and were engaged in a hot dis
pute as to the identity Of the wailing
captive, while the cause of all the
trouble was forced to hold his peace.
That my angel child" said Mrs.
Carver, tragically pointing to the
dirty. red-faced bowling youngster. Il
am astonished that you should think
of such a thing for a minute. Those
clothes and that facet" 1t was grow
ing dark in the dingy little Office, and
even a mother might well be mistaken
in her offspring. Some well-meaning
man had given Robert a stick of can
dy and he had played havoc with
hands, face and hair with the sticky
sweet. Richard, Dorothy, what does
this mean?" and she turned to the
young people in a n that
alarmed them more than the threats
of the officers.
Il told him it wasn't Robert" walled
Dorothy, deserving Richard in his
hour of need. Maggie will tell you
so. too"
u Suppose you don't know me, Nell"
said the prisoner, coldly, 'ff you cant
recognize your own son. suppose
hanging is too good for me, but
there's no use in having the whole
family act in a manner becoming to
the day. Take Bob and go home. I'm
under arrest for something or other
and am willing to pay the penalty"
"Are you all here YETI asked Grace
D;obordc lookipp In IN bor UNIV homa