Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-09-21

You really are not joking" And
 the cold chills ran over the delinquent
 uncle. Where do you suppose he can
 be? Some one must have Kidnapped
 him, for could swear I 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 Robbie Carver? MT. Tender
 son brought him over here for joke
 and put him in the hall. about one
 o'clock, but I 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 O. yourself? don't care if
 it is the first of April. you have no right to tell us a." .
 Whats that? asked Maggie. excit. edly, as 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 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 hatless, but he paid not 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 puffing 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 him.
 That isn't Robbie!" 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 with the mayor and the officers. T did it for 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 DO. lice, now thoroughly angry. you oan' consider yourself under arrest! We will have no more such foolishness' Evidently you are 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 l reception? I'll go after her and see about this being her child"
 Miss Richards departed serenely to he reception and ten minutes later Mrs. Carver, on the verge of mysteries, was ushered in by the officer. Mary, md Maggie had also reached the scene and were engaged in 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; lirty. red.faced bowling youngster. 1T nm astonished that you should think ,f such a thing for minute. Those clothes and that facet" It was grow ng dark in the dingy little office. and ,ven a mother might we'll be mistaken n her offspring. Some well-meaning nan had given Robert stick of can. ly and he had played havoc with lands, face and hair with the sticky | iweet. Richard, Dorothy. what does his mean?" and she turned to the 'oung people in a manner that alarmed them more than the threats ,f the officers.
 "I told him 1t wasn't Robert" walled | Dorothy, deserting Richard in his lour of need. Maggie will tell you Q, too"
 T suppose you don't know me. Nell" aid the prisoner. coldly. If you can't | your own son. suppose langing is too good for me. but | here's no use in having the whole amily act in a manner becoming to he day. Take Bob and go home. I'm nder arrest for something or other nd am willing to pay the penalty"
 Are you all here yet?" asked Grace looking fin on her way home rom the reception. 'Mr. Henderson. Ehat do you think of playing jokes on Ittle country girls by this time?"
 Miss Richards" said the victim i'm. loringly. 'if you1l convince these de- 1ded women that that youngster is