The Sauk Centre herald., 1907-12-12
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INIlDENT
By MARY ROBERTS RlNEHART
By MARY ROBERTS RINEHART
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Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

Willie Madden ,ici:ai up the bowl
of brown sugar. &-a Giving the oil
cloth-cove&eG Tab" q = pc with the
sleeve Of his iac e. AonJ1ed into the
pantry.
The pantry was e.agjy Miss Ar
thurs the nurse. was busy back in
the ward, turning down snail beds
for smaller cCcau ants, hu-6D8 out
'nighties' for the bab'o5, changing hot
pillows for cocl ones. ana rEoviding
that final drink OF water w,.,oh is for.
ever associated wish bedtime, and
which helps 10 POSTPONE, il only for a
moment, the inevitable turning down
of the light. ~.
Willie Madden loitered for mo-
ment in the pantry, finishing a bowl
of bread and milk which he found
there, and filing his pockets with
Jumps from the sugar bowl. Then he
limped back again The ward was
growing quiet now. Over in corner
behind a screen, the 'Hunkie" baby
was getting its bran bath, while on
the red-covered center table three
nursing bottles reposed in basin Of
hot water, substitute mothers for as
many waiting infants.
Willie Madden, autocrat of the
small bed and leaned his crutch
against chair, his broken leg eX-
tended stiffiy before him.
Willie Madden was not sleepy.
Nice hour to go to bed" he grumbled
to a boy on the other side. six
o'clock amt no bedtime. Last edi-
tons just out"
''It amt SO bad when YOU can walk
around and get tired" said the next
boy, who wore a plaster cast around
his small body. and whose legs and
arms tossed restlossly. 4 guess
won't never be tired AGAIN. I'm goin'
TO sit UP next WaoE, though"
Willie Madden debated for a mo-
it eagerly, holding it in his thin fin
ment. Then he reached for his trous.
ers and fumbled in the pockets.
Here he said carelessly tossing
over lump of sugar. take that to
make you feel better"
The boy in the plaster jacket took
gers and nibbling at it to make it
last. Miss Arthugs gave the last dose
of medicine, and locking the cupboard
went wearily out. her keys jingling
in her hand. A moment later the
night nurse stopped at the door, her
rubber-heeled shoes making no sound
and smiled goodnight to the chill
dren
The boy cautiously crept out OF
bed and reached for his crutches. 1t
was evident that some dark conspir-
acy was on foot for he limped noise
lessly to the corridor and looked
carefully up and down. There was
no one in sight, and save for a strong
odor OF turpentine in the air and an
occasional stifled cough from the next
ward, there was no evidence of life.
Willie Madden's next motions were
mysterious. He crept over to the pan
try, with its rows of locked cupboard
and refrigerator doors Some one
came quickly down the hall, and the
boy slipped behind door and stood
quiet, his heart humping in his ears.
The steps passed on and again every
thing was quiet. Willie Madden
from his hiding place, and
stopping with difficulty, his splinted
leg out before him, he groped under
the long red table-cover which reached |
almost to the floor.
When he Strengthened again he held |
IN his hand three large, thick slices
If bread plentifully sprinkled with |
crown sugar, which he proceeded to
button inside his jacket Still with the |
same caution he went back to the