Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-05-05

The ward was perfectly quiet. Sarah
Ann Johnson had rolled into the mid
die Of her led. celebrating the black
doll, and the "IImkie" baby still held
It's empty bottle.
The boy cautiously crept out of
bed and reached for his crutches. 1t
Was evident that some dark conspira-
Icy was on foot. for he limped noiae.
| lessly to the corridor and looked care
fuliy up and down. There was no one
IN sight, and, save for a strong odOr
al turpentine I'm the air and an &C.
cnsional stifled cough from the next
ward. there was no evidence of life.
Willie Maddens next motions were
mysterious. He crept over to the pan
try, with its rows of locked cupboards
ana refrigerator doors. Some one
came quickly down the hall. and the
boy slipped behind n door anu stood
quiet. his heart humping in his ears.
the steps passed on, and again every
thing was quiet. Willie Madden EN-.
erged from his hiding-place, and,
STOPPING with difficulty, his splintered
leg out before him, he CROPPED und N
the long red table.cover which reach.
ed almost to the floor.
When he Strengthened again he hell
in his hand three large, thick slices
or bread pluntifully sprinkled with
brown sugar, which he proceeded to
button inside Of his jacket Still with
the same caution he went back to the
ward. There was no vacillatlon in
his movements. An observer. had
there been one, would have seen es.
taGiished routine in HIS actions, for
without n spare gesture he picked
from the nurses table the little wick
er bnsket which carried empty bottles
to tho pharmacy to be refllled, and
carried 1t to his bed.
His next proceeding was curious
From under his mattress he produced
an orange, somewhat flattened from
its place OF concealment, and a ball
of cord, much knotted and of every
shade and thickness. In moment
he had fastened the string to the
handle of the basket. had dumped in
the shgared bread and the orange
and was ready for the last act in
the drama.
The night nurse came along the
corridor and stopped ut the door
whats wrong, William?" she called
softly.
"Gettin' Il drink" he answered mon.
daciously.
He watched her out of sight, then
slipped to the window and unlocked
the screen. "Hst!" he called into the
darkness.
list" came sibilantly from below.
The basket disappeared over tho
window ledge. II swung slowly down
into the void, its progress marked by
the various hues of the cord. until at
n Knot of lavender and green the con-
spirator stopped. The cord jerlxed
for moment-the nibbling of hun
cry fish Mt the bait. Then the basket
swung clear and was hauled up swift
ly, Rather to the surprise OF the 10y
above, It was not empty At the bot
tom was soft, sticky gumdrop, once
lemon-yellow. now n dar!Sish brown
Willie Madden drew the screen shut,
snapped the catch aud popped the
gumdroD into his mouth with what
seemed single comprehensive ges.
ture Then. the basket In his hand
he turned around In the middle of
the ward stood one of the doctors
and the night nurse. Both were
trownlng ferociously, both were look
Ing at the basket.
We'll" said Willie Madden, def.
antly, when the silence became @h-
presslve.
Well" said the doctor. "this looks
uncorilmonly like stealing. my friend
What was In that basket?"
Bread and butter--anE sugar" he
said, honestly. He had heard some
where that there are times when the
truth is n COOL thing. Anyhow, what
use to say that he was merely anus.
ing himself, when they had only to
look ont to gee the kid eating his
supper Just below the windows
is that ala" asked the nurse
searchingly.
An orange" he admitted.
The nurse turned to the doctor.
THE Fruit and Flower Mission sent
oranges today. 1t was probably his
own"
Who's waiting below theres" The
DOCTORS voice was even more savage
than before. 1t was too dark to see
his eyes.
"The kid--my brother"
The doctor spoke a word or two to
the nurse. turned on his heel and
went out. Willie Madden watched
him shrlnkingly.
"What'll he do to him?" lie asked
TREMENDOUSLY. Gle amt done nothin'.
did the pinchin'"
The nurse was still severe. "Wait
and see,' she said, holding tight to
the boys shoulder Its serious
thing to pass Tread and butter-and
sugar ont of hospital window at
night"
There was not sound In the ward
except the heavy breathing of the
sleeping children. Once Sarah Ann
Johnson moaned restlessly md yyillia