Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-16

coed to adopt a baby"
blunt and surprising remark that came
from the one who held the infant. Ban
semer felt himself getting angry.
"Who wants to adopt it?' he asked
shortly.
81 do, of course" she answered, so
readily that the lawyer stared. He
scanned her from head to foot critical
ly; her face Redeemed perceptibly. 1t
surprised him to find that she was
more than merely good looking. She
was positively attractive!
Are you a married woman?" he de
manded.
Yes" she answered, with a furtive
glance at her companion. This is my
sister," she added.
Il see. Where is your husbandT"
He is at home, or, rather, at his
mothers home. We are living there
now"
Il thought you said you were a gov
erness?"
"That doesn't prevent me from hav-
ing q home, does itT' she explained
easily. I'm not nurse, you know"
This isn't your child, then?' he
asked impatiently.
81 don't know whose child it is"
There was new softness In her voice
that made him look hard at her while
she passed a hand tenderly over the
sleeping babe. -She comes from a
foundlings' home, sir"
You cannot adopt child unless sup
ported by some authority" he said.
How does she happen to be in your
possession, and what papers have you
from the foundlings' home to show that
| the authorities are willing that you
should have her? There is lot of red
| tape about such matters, madam"
81 thought perhaps you could manage
| it for me, Mr.. Bansemer," she said
plaintively. ''They say you never fail
| at anything you undertake" He was
not sure there was compliment in her
remark, so he treated it with indiffer-
| ence.
I'm afraid 1 can't help you" The
| tone was final.
Cant you tell me how I'll have to
proceed? 1 must adopt the child, sir,
| one way or another" Her manner was
| more subdued, and there was touch
of supplication In her voice.
ooh, you go into the proper court and
| make application, that's all,'' he volun-
teered carelessly. 1.-The Judge will do
the rest Does your husband approve
of the plans?'
"He doesn't know anything about it. !"
"What's that?'
81 can't tell him. 1t would spoil ev-
erything."
my dear madam, don't believe
understand you quite, clearly. You
want to adopt the child and keep the
matter dark so far as your husband is
concerned? May inquire the reason? p
Bansemer naturally was interested by
this time.
''If you have time to listen. I'd like
to tell you how it all comes about. 1t
won't take long. I want some one to
tell me just what to do, and I'll pay
for the advice, IL it isn't too expensive.
I'm very poor. Mr.. Bansemer. Per
haps you won't care to help me after
you know that l can't afford to pay
( very much"
Wen see about that later" he said
brusquely. $50 ahead with the story
The young woman hesitated, glanced
!. nervously at her sister as If for sup
port and finally faced the expectant
J lawyer with flash of determination in
her dark eyes AS she proceeded Banse,
mer silently and somewhat disdainfully
made study of the speaker He con.
cluded that she was scarcely of com
mon origin and was the possessor of {
superficial education that had been en-
larged by conceitedness. Furthermore
she was a person of selfish instincts
but without the usual cruel impulses
There was little, IL any, sign of true re
fnement in the features, and yet Their
| was strange strength of purpose tina
puzzled him. As her story progresse,
| he solved the puzzle. She had tn
strength to carry out a purpose tina
/ might further her own personal inter
ests, but not,the will TO endure. sacri