Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1914-07-16


shoulder and turned him gently 80
he could face his mother.
This is your little boy" she said in
q low voice.
ELLA Paget sprang to her feet with
a cry OF rage. In second she stood
at Dorcas' side. She turned the child's
face up to her own and stared at It.
The sightless eyes seemed to plead
and search for something they did not
find. Robin lifted his hands and
CROPPED till he caught his mothers fin
gers. She flung them aside angrily.
Don't touch mel" she cried harsh
ly. Take him out OF my sight!"
Dorcas grew white to the lips. Robin
was clutching at her in terror. She
put her arm about him. sheltering him
as a mother would have done.
Miss Paget turned her eyes fiercely
upon the girl. who Matched this in
fernal plot?" she cried. who brought
this little brat to American"
The actress lost control OF herself.
She dashed up and down the narrow
dressing-room like q Gagged tiger.
What is the matter?" asked Dor
cas- coldly.
It's hell and the devil-and all his
angels. That's what's the matter.
What right had you to stick a finger
in my affairs? What do you suppose
| want Of that blind brat? hate the
sight Of him. He is the image Of his
father, and good God! how did hate
him! suppose you and your sanity
Mr. Oswald are bent on running my
career"
Dorcas opened the door and pushed
the sobbing child gently into the lob
by. Merry stood outside. where he
had overheard the woman's shrill
abuse. He took Robin by the hand
and led him downstairs. Dorcas re-
entered the dressing.room. Miss Paget
was tossing through heap Of letters
which lay on her table as l! in search
Of something. She picked up a sheet
Of paper and stood reading It. A saw
age smile convulsed her handsome
face.
II know now who did it," she cried.
THAT was the revenge he meant, the
bally old rotter! Ill get even with
him."
You don't want your little boy.
them" asked Dorcas.
She turned on the girl in blank
amazement.
Want that blooming, batty, imbe-
cile Rob Tully's child? Not on your
life! He goes back to the asylum
where he came from. l can get the
law on them for giving him up without
his mothers consent
His mother!" cried Dorcas. you
do not act the part OF Mrs. Ester
brook'!"
There was an ugly tone in Zilla
Paget's laugh. II have heard that
before. Mr.. Oswald was once SO COM
as to tell me something
OF the sort. Now, perhaps you will
be polite enough to clear out. And be-
fore you 90. let me give you a bit OF
advice. my lady: keep your nose out
Of my business II you have any re-
gard for your own happiness!"
Dorcas turned to the door. The
woman laughed as she closed 1t behind
her. She paused for a minute in the
empty hall trying to think Of what
could be said to the child downstairs.
II the woman had struck him in the
face, 1t would have been easier to re-
cover from such blow.
Dick came dashing up the stairs.
First CALL" he shouted hoarsely.
She ran down to her own room.
Mrs. Volk sat In a low chair with
Robin in her arms. cuddling him
against her breast and grooming to
him as II he were baby. She looked
up at Dorcas with pitiful eyes.
Let me take him. Alice. l have
plenty OF time to dress after Julie
goes out. She needs you to button
her frock and fix her hair"
Robin did not speak when Alice laid
him in her arms. His slender body
was limp and quiet. Dorcas had never
known any little boy intimately, and
she did not know exactly how to com.
fort him. 1t occurred to her that II
she were in Robins place she would
not want anybody to speak OF what
had happened. She bent down and
touched his face with her lips. When
the door closed and Mrs. Volk went
out with Julie, he asked in a whisper.
Il don't belong then-to the-lady
do II"
mo, DEAR" there was a thrill OF
assurance in Dorcas' voice, no, you
could not possibly have belonged to
her. Somebody made a mistake-an
awful mistake"
"Then-do you know-who | do be-
ong to-"
Robin" asked Dorcas gently. do
you still wish that were your moth
err"
His arms clasped convulsively about |
her neck, and the slim body shook |
with sobs.
Il would like-to belong to some
body"
Well" said the girl decisively, II
want you-forever-as my own little |
,ov ChaIl We ahaka banda nm itp"