Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-02-27
The Million Dollar
Baby
BY Saidee Estelle Falcon
l01s. We torn newspaper Unloa )

entire situation. You will leave mere
tomorrow. apparently with the child.
You must make the perlous journey
over the frontier The child may be
taken from you
Arnold Brooks spoke with def
mite seriousness betokening that he
meant every word he said. The envi-
ronment was typical Of rude, rough
Mexican life. He was in charge OF
some mining property worked by Mex
leans, and since war disturbances had
racked the country these had become
ndolent, Indifferent and often threat
ening
Long since Arnold had felt it I'M
,afe 10 remain in this hot-bed of in
urrection, and had decided that soon
or or later he must at least get his
wife back TO safety and civilization.
Then the birth Of little Edwin had in
terrupted.
1, was strange, hut there was only
one person in the whole community
to whom Arnold could go for help,
and that was Ezra Washington. He
was a full-bloodcd negro. With his
wife and family he had accompanied
the Brooks family TO the mines 70
perform household service and had
shown such stanch fidelity to the in
terests Of Arnold that the latter had
learned 10 reposr pnrfect confidenc"
IN the crude, uncouth fellow and his
wife They had a brood of five chill
dreu occupied cabin near the haci.
enda; and Arnold felt a certain sense
" security in having Ezra around for
the latter WAS vigilnnt and Kept in
close touch with the doings Of the
MeNicanS II was 10 the cabin OF
Ezra that Arnold went after leaving
his wife and child. lie sought out Ezra,
took HIM TO safe distance from any
possible caveSdroppers and faced him
grayely.
Era he said you have been q
dligent, faithful helper ever since we
came to the mines, and when we get
back home the company shall know
Of he fact and compensate you nc
cordWgly.
Don't caro- for dat feachur. Mr..
Rroote." rerllcd Ezra indiferently.
You FORKS hey hccu good and kind to
us. YOU aud mls~u> is good people, and
old Ezra is glad TO be honored by be
Ing in your service, sab"
"Weu. there is not soul here 7
trust hat YOU Ezra" proceeded Ar
mold seriously. 'nnd am going to re-
pose great confidence. i'm YOU and ask
Won to undertake 4 great responsible
lily. Things are getting very serious
around here, rs you know
"Bln hot Snh and there's going
10 he q blow M soon, shuah :"
y am planning to send my wife
north and we are all to follow. The
baby"
"The milion-dollar baby! Little Ed
win yes, sab" grlnned Ezra, "bless
his dear little heart! No place here
for either of them"
"The million-dollar baby" was no de-
fusion. It was known to Ezra that
declared right after the birth Of the
little child. the first in the family for
20 years, that he should make the
newcomer his heir. Hence the broad
allusion of Ezra.
you see, Ezra" resumed Arnold
"the advent of the little one and his
adoption as heir by my father-in-law
has set villainy at work There is
man, an adopted son of Mr. Adams,
whose chances Of fortune will be SUI
formation that he has plotted with
some Mexicans down here to kidnap,
perhaps kill the child, nj least never
allow II TO leave the country. What
would you say II I asked you to ex-
ercIse your shrewd wits, provide my
wife with n substitute child. take
charge Of little Edwin. and battle the
mercenary plotters?"
"rd say, sah" Ezra declared with
vim and promptness, "that it can be
done.
Myra Brooks started from the town
early one morning In the rlckety coach
that piled between II and the nearest
railroad point II was with a feel
ing Of vast relief that two weeks
later Arnold learned of her safe ar
rival AZ home with a substitute child.
q little orphan secured from chill
dren'S asylum NJ Pontiac. 10 repre-
sent thp rnal Mathematician hahv. The