The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-08-17
fight. You have been acting very
strangely all afternoon

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him over here for joke blurted out
the now alarmed young man. Its All
Fools Day and I'm one of them.
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. I 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 can
be? Some one must have kidnapped
him; for 1 could swear I put him in
your hall. I certainly must have lost
my few wits to think of such 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 Joke
and put him in the hall about one
o'clock, but l 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? 1 don't care if
it is the first of April, you have no
right to tell us a"
whats that?' asked Maggie, excit-
eddy, as young girl came out of the
next house and got into cab with
bundle that looked suspiciously like
baby. "Grace Richards is goin' away
with some sort of bundle. Mebby
you got into the wrong house."
1.-THE very thing!' screamed Doro.
thy. 1.-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
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 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 him.
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 loob
like a waif, but Richard undertook to
expostulate with the mayor and the
officers. Il 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 cut 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 no more such foolishness.
Evidently you are a candidate for the
Jail or asylum, and you'll get 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? I'll go after her and see
about this being her child"
| Miss Richards departed serenely tC
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 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. u
am astonished that you should think
of such a thing for minute. Those
clothes and that facet" 1t was grow.
ing dark in the dingy little Office, and
even mother might well be mistaken
in her offspring. Some well-meaning
man had given Robert 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 manner that
alarmed them more than the threats
of the officers.
IT told him it wasn't Robert" walled
Dorothy, deserving Richard in his
hour of need. maggie will tell you
|