The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1917-08-02
out! Good Morning"

outl Good Morning"
The girl, blinded with tears,
stumbled toward the door, but be-
fore she reached it hand was laid
on her arm.
Forgive me, Miss Stewart" he
said softly, earnestly; his eyes gentle.
81 am afraid l have been positively
rude, but / lose my temper so quick
ly and say things l don't mean at
all. Forget this, will your"
She nodded, unable to speak.
"Little GIRL" he went on, you'd
make damn fine reporter II you
weren't so much of woman. But
as it is; you're just little sob sis
ter" He turned away quickly.
AS Marcelle came out into the big
office; faint flush suffused her
face, and though tears glistened on
her lashes; her eyes were starry. The
worried expression on Billy's face
changed to one of amazement as he
looked at the radiant girl.
"Well, I'll be darned~ he ejacu-
lated. "He didn't quite eat you, did
he, KIDD" At her smile and nod in
the negative. "That's good, but still
-musingly "the 'old mans had
enough to almost make him dislike
humans"
The girl asked quickly: "Why has
he had any great sorrow in his life?"
"Well," sadly 81 guess you'd call it
that; Lemme see it was fourteen
years ago this spring when the old
mamie wasn't old then-married.
He had regular little doll of a
wife; lovin' and sweet and pretty as
a picture. The kid, he was a cub
then just worshiped her. / never
saw such happy pair. But it did
mt last long. The little lady's life
went out in giving birth to daugh-
ter. They'd only been married about
two years. 1t just about killed Ora
ham. He had brain fever, and came
close to crossin' over himself. One
day, as he kept cryin' for his wife,
the nurse carried the baby in to him.
That brought him around. He soon
got we'll, and if it's possible, he low
ed that baby more than he had his
wife. She was a cute little blue
eyed trick. He used to bring Alice
that was her name-down to the Of
flee pretty often. She was a great
favorite with us boys. Lord! how
Graham loved that child, and then,
and then" Billys' voice died away
into silence. He was seeing and liv-
ing the past. Marcelle waited
breathlessly for a moment.
"And then"-she said softly.
30 iarly
He laughed nervously: "And then
the baby was kidnapped. They new
er even found clue. The kid just
disappeared from its nursery one
night, and was never seen or heard
of again. Graham spent every cent
he had, the country was secured, po-
lice and private detectives looked
everywhere, and we all worked on
the case with him. But it was NO
use. After year or so he gave il
up himself and worked like dog to
forget. He made good alright, but
he's been regular crank ever
since"
"But" interposed Marcelle. "Was
J there nothing on which to base a
clue? was there no mark on the
child's body or any thing one could
identify her by"
"Why! come to think of it she had
three little red spots on her left
shoulder, looked like a bunch of
cherries. But, Lord, girl; we could
MT undress every little kid, we saw
huntin' for 'em, and say-Pve got to
get to work or I'll be canned, s'long."
AS Marcelle walked down the
street she was thinking of the ira
gedy in the editors life. ooh you
poor, dear thing" she breathed. "If
l could only help you," suddenly she
remembered she had only until next
week to make good or lose her posi-
ton. So she boarded an east end
car and went own into the slums of
the city.
Several hours later she walked down
lower Canal street, her head high,
the joy of living was reflecting it
self in her pretty face and the swing
of her slim young body. She had
gotten three stories so far; good
ones, too, she knew. The forlorn
figure Of sobbing little girl, sitting
on the curb, brought Marcelle down
from the clouds.
whats the matter, dear" she ask
ed in voice which inspired instant
trust in the child. "Oh," she walled
Granny whipped me so hard cause l
told her was hurry, and she said I'd
have to go an nip; as wouldn't get
nothing to eat and don't wanna
steal"
"Come on, honey, I'll get you