The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1915-01-02

worth" she said abruptly. Something
uncommon must have happened to
| make you honor me with visit Who
is your young friend?"
Dorcas laid her hand upon Robins
shoulder and turned him gently SO
he could face his mother.
This is your little boy" she said in
a low voice.
Zilla Paget sprang to her feet with
a cry Of rage. In a second she stood
at Dorcas' side. She turned the childs
face up to her own and stared at It
| The sightless eyes seemed to plead
and search for something they did not
| and Robin lifted his hands and
groped till he caught his mothers I'm
/ 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 q mother would have done.
Miss Paget turned her eyes fercely
upon the girl. Who hatched this in
fernal plot?" she cried. Who brought
this little brat to America?"
The actress lost control OF herself.
She dashed up and down the narrow
dressing-room like a 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
l want of that blind brat? l hate the
sight Of him. He is the image of his
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 shrili
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 il in search
OF paper and stood reading it. A saw
age smile convulsed her handsome
face
Il know now who did it," she cried.
That was the revenge ne meant, the
bally old rotter! I'll get wen 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-
Tall
life! He goes back to the asylum
| where he came from. I 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 anNugly tone i'll Zilia
Paget's laugh, Il have heard that
before. Mr. Oswald was once so com
plimentary as to tell ME something
of the sort. Now, perhaps you will
be polite enough to clear out. And be-
fore you 60, let me give you bit OF
advice, my lady: keep your nose out
OF my business il you have any re-
gard for your own happiness."
Dorcas turned TO the door. The
| woman laughed as she closed it 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
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 low chair with
Robin in her arms. cuddling him
against her bresss and Grooming to
him As il he were s'bsby See looked
| UP ut 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 III 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 il
| 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,
4. Il don't belong then--to the-lady
| upstairs. do II"
| No, dear there was a thrill OF
assurance in Dorcaa' voice, no, you
+! could not possibly have belonged to
her. Somebody made a mistake--an
| awful mistake"
''Then--do you know-who | do be-
| long to?'
| Robin asked Dorcas gently, do
| you still wish that were your moth
err"