The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-07-18
The Salvage of the
Madigan Baby.
~ MARY ROBERTS RINEHARr.


forgot the crutch, or rather, per-
haps, one considered 1t a part of
James William, and as such, never
noticed it at all. There were few
boys in the asylum who could do
more with two legs than this ten
year-old boy did with one and a frac-
ton. To Miss Adams, however, the
fraction was an impossible barrier
to the salvage corps, until one day
James William picked UP the EIadi-
gan baby from a wicker go-cart In
the yard and darted impishly up the
fire escape with her in his free arm.
At the top he paused, looked down in
triumph to the breathless crowd be-
low. and disappeared jauntify
through a window. That the board
OF lady managers was holding
meeting just inside rather added to
the dramatic effect of his entrance.
But the Madigan baby kicked her
feet ard squealed with Joy, and James
William received a reprimand and
commission on the fire corps, pro-
vided he avoided any more practical
"
And then he fell down the stairs!
|. Some one had tripped him, and
deliberately-he knew that. He
looked down the long table to where
the Virgins boy was catching flies
and putting them down MS neigh
boris back. 1t was quite likely to
have been the Virgins boy. When
things happened to James William
1t usually was the Virgins boy. The
more James William looked the more
he became convinced of the Virgins
boys guilt-he bore an almost un-
natural air of joy, and he seldom
looked up the table.
James William drew breath and
looked at Miss Adams. Somehow she
too, seemed to avoid his eye. The
boy listened rebelliously to the little
prayer after the supper, without
joining. He half wished the whole
place would burn down that night
maybe they would be sorry wher
there was nobody to save the Madi
gan kid. He had heard it whispered
that the Virgins boy had been as
signed to the Madigan baby. H,
knew that the Virgins boy was
coward He knew that in case O
real fire the Virgins boy woul,
think only of saving himself.
All these things rankled in hi
mind as James William went to be,
that night He could not get t.
sleep; he lay wondering il the wig
gins boy had really taken his plac
on the life-saving corps; who it wa
had tripped him the night before
how Miss Adams could be SO crue
when she seemed so kind. 1t wa
very hot in the dormitory; the ligh
, from the street lamps shone on tn
high ceiling; few mosquitoes, TAX
, ing advantage of an unlocked screen
| hummed about the little cots. Tn
| air seemed thick and sitting; Jane
, William decided to get up and sc
a drink. And then he missed hi
| crutch.
He hoped out on one foot an
looked under the bed. but it WASH
I there. Then he felt around the be
clothes, but still no crutch. Afte
t time he gave it up and sat on tn
? edge of his bed, impotently raginl
0 At last he dropped off into an ur
/ easy sleep.
Q At the first stroke of the gong h
t was on the floor, feeling Instructive
n for his crutch; all around small boz
were jumping from their beds, ra
IS ing for the door, leaping down IL
: stairs. Then James William remen
bered. 1t might be against the rule
!! but what was the use of followir
II the drill If he could not do it pro
II erly--lf he had no baby to carr
" out? He got sheepishly back In
t bed again and drew the sheet oy
le his face.
r After a minute or so James WI
r liam pushed the sheet down al
is coughed. II was close under ther
y. Then ne sat up and looked aroun
le The night looked queer. 1t seem,
Id red, for one thing, and around
is were little luminous circles tn
II. seemed to waver and shift. Then
re noticed that everything in the roo
wavered curiously; the big goi
re was dim. the gong which John p'
I'd ished so religiously every Frids
s; And then even as he looked at
en- the gong began to ring again-n
ly slowly this time, but madly,
til strokes which seemed to fall oy
tn each other and merged in one {
It, moniac clamor.
he Then James William knew what
he was. This was no practice alarm.
en- was FIRE, real fire this time--and I
at the pain OF it. He was no Ions
ais on the life-saving corps. He v
nd fumbling again for his crutch, W
he the same result From away doy
'as stairs came the faint tramp, trar
ty- OF barefooted children marching
in to safety. James William began
he cough again; there was queer
he feeling in his head. aud 1t was v
M warm. Then. holding to the bed
sht hoped on his one foot toward
as door.
lite AS he opened ID choking b
ion of black smoke drove him ba
for There was filckering light II
10Y some place that cleaned for n
but ute and was smothered, only
av- burst up again. James VIII
age closed the door into the dormit
behind him, z2d holding by the "
en- blinked into the smoke. Then