Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-08-11
IN THE LIGHT
OF EXPERIENCE

ner of the hall with his father as he
did every morning, decided at last not
to wait for the end of the discussion
that seemed somehow to concern him.
So he stole out of the half-open front
door of the big apartment building.
The argument went IN in his absence.
II don't see why you have the coun-
try craze again." Bobby's mother said.
Il don't want to give up this comfort
able fiat and all my social affairs to
bury myself in the woods"
1T isn't the woods" Bobby's father
said, impatiently. But, of course, if
you won't, that's all there is to it.
We can get the house cheap now and
Bobby needs place to play. The
poor little chap looks like a celery
plant already"
Bobby! Where was the boy?
Come on" Bobby's father said, for
getting his grievance. We'll find
him out in the hall. He loves those
red-and-white tiles"
Out in the hall door opened and
woman in a gorgeous kimono stopped
to pick up the morning paper
"You are looking for your child?"
she asked, coldly. "He was here
little while ago, but he persisted in
waking my baby by singing, and l
told him to run away"
HE is so tiny!" cried the culprit's
mother.
"The smaller the boy the bigger the
noise! You might ask the elevator
boy"
Bobby's father rang the elevator
bell.
why, yes. sir. I seen him awhile
ago." the elevator boy said. "He
wanted to know would l play tiger
and l told him to go to his ma. You
might ask the janitor."
why, sure, the little Teller was
here" the janitor said. "Twas sor-
ry l was to tell him not to play on
the stairs, but there's so many to
complain, sor, and noises echoes
lot. You moight ask the young lady
in the offiss, sor."
The young woman had noticed him,
she had told him to run out in the
courtyard because she could not hear
what people said over the phone
when he sang so loud. They might
ask the downstairs janitor.
The downstairs janitor looked up
from the steps he was washing. ZACH,
yes, hat saw your boy, yet" he said.
HE vas digging holes in mein court
und send him away NIT hollering at
him. He is run oudt in der street
yet"
I'm the road! Oh, Toni"
Bobby's mother was very white and
tense lines showed about his fathers
mouth. Bobby was so tiny to be
alone in such wide, rushing world!
They walked far, looking for police
man, and finally found one on their
return. Bobby's mother seized him
by the arm, eagerly.
"Oh, where's Bobby" she cried.
"You have seen my little boy, haven't
you? In a khaki suit? l told him
never"
Sure, l seen him some time gone.
He was after playing ball with stones
in the road, and says for him to
play on the walk. l says, for fear O
ottermobiles. There's so many av
thin now"
Where did he 60 them" asked
Bobby's father. you didn't let him
go far, surely?"
AN why not?" the officer said,
cody. Il was thinkin' he lived near
by an he wasn't cryin'. It's orders to
stop the little vans what's cryin'. Be-
sides, the Teddy took him along"
Bobby's mother sank on horse
block.
what lady?" she whispered. "A
kidnapper! know it was!"
where is the station?" said Bob.
by's father.
It was a mile away, SO they took
the car, totally oblivious OF the curl
GUS stares of their fellow passengers,
who acted as if they thought them.
selves in the company Of two escaped
lunatics. Their leaving at the sta
ton corner did not put them any high
er in the public's esteem.
The desk sergeant was kind. but he
asked innumerable questions of the
two crazed persons who presented
themselves before him hatless and
coatless, In spite of the cold wind.
After an interminable time the desk
sergeant decided to send for the ma
tron.
Bobby's mother sank into the chair
which a policeman brought for her.
The desk sergeant had been out and
he did not know whether the lost boy
had been claimed yet or not.
Some officers playing checkers did
not so much as raise their eyes to
look at the distracted parents, and
Bobby's mother felt they could not
but be businesslike and heartless in
such big. gray stone building. She
felt crushed and BUNDLED and did not
look up when the matron came in.
Then suddenly there was a cry of
"Mudder!" Tired, dirty little Bobby
Law in her arms, safe and whole,
n-o,.;ru hio tear.stained face against