The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-12-02

/
/ have pronounced him a young man of
about twenty-three. very goodlooking.
well dressed and a gentleman. She
could have figured, that he was there
| TO take a train, but would have had to
! guess that he was a civil engineer.
| Yes, he sat there. and he saw baby
dumped down and knew that the ex-
element had called its attendant
away. He moved one seat nearer the
infant, instead of three seats further
away. as many young man would
have done, and he said to himself, re-
ferring to Miss Ethel:
she isn't the mother, or she'd
never have done that. and she's too
good looking and well dressed for
| nurse girl. Couldn't have brought
the kid here to abandon. Not old
enough to be so hardened. Probably
come back in FIVE minutes. Ha!
There she goes for the train with
another lady! Clear case. and the
kid goes to founding home!"
But 1t didn't 1t awoke and smiled
at the man bending over 1t. He
smiled back. Then a woman came
up and blushed and laughed and
said:
so the mink played game on
your"
What do you mean?"
| she's put 1t off on your hands and
has taken the train. What are you
going to do about it? She played
the game rather neatly"
| Mr.. Ashley resented that word
mink" In fact, he resented the won.
ans tone and insinuation. He thought
he knew people quite well. young as
he was. and he was ready to swear
that the leaving OF the child was a
blunder.
IF you want to hand 1t back on her
! can help you." continued the WON.
an with the same sarcastic smile.
There was another woman with her,
and she went away to buy ticket
for Blankville. twenty miles out.
That's where they have gone to.
gether."
And that's where I'll follow" said
Mr.. Ashley. Il think | can get It
there all right"
Sure. You are young man of
spunk. II has a nursing bottle here.
and IL 1t cries. you feed It."
When the baby was missed by It's
mother and aunt the train was under
full Roadway. The railroad company
doesn't stop and back up its trains for
lost babies. The only way was to
get off Mt the first station, seven
miles out, and send telegram to the
depot master and follow 1t by the
first train. Another telegram was
sent to the father Mother and aun,
returned to the city and rushed up
and down the big depot. They found
plenty OF babies. but not the baby
wanted. After twenty minutes OF the
greatest anxiety. and after Miss Ethe
had pointed out the spot ten times
over where she had laid the infan,
down. an old man who explained
that he was going to Montana when
ever his train came along. added
4 Say, saw a young fellow stea
that kid! Yes. sir, he looked al
around to see II anybody was watch
ing. and then smiled and clucked a
her and took her up and walked gu
to train. I'd have tackled him. onl,
I'm an old man and have a bad liver
The doctor told me not to get ex
cited. Yes. sir. he stole that bah,
as sure as shooting, and he'c hun
, dred miles away by this time!"
, There was weeping and wailing an,
. telephoning to Mr.. Congdon and tele
, graphing to conductors. One OF tn
, latter answered:
. young man with a baby In hi
arms got of at Blankyille. Had IN
. suspicious"
!, The trail led to Blankville. Iron
, of Fate. Young man steals a bah
a In Philadelphia and gets OF the trail
/, where It's father and mother live. !
, telegram to the police at Blankvill
!. read:
ARREST young man who got o.
Ave o'clock train with a girl bah,
Case Of kidnapping"
! And there being no case for tn
. police to blunder and arrest an oil
q woman leading a goat. they nabbe
q Mr.. Paul Ashley as he sat In the d,
pot playing with the stolen child an
3 asking everybody II they could idel
tify It. Father. mother and Aur
!, Ethel arrived and rushed and precip
tated themselves, and that sweetes
4 incest. darlingest little bit of human
4 ity actually kicked and fought an
y cried when torn from the arms {
/. its bold-faced abductor.
q The police had no case. The e-'
Q case they appeared to be. after .,
d plantations had been made. was b.
d tween Miss Ethel and Mr.. Ashley.
Il hasn't been fully concluded yet. bl
: 1t has been settled that Paris viii b
I one of the continental cities visite
during the coming summer.
n Cynical Crouch.
q Even at the time when crinoiine