The Washington times., 1924-03-24

OF It's birth. Is 1t fact, Mrs.
Clayton, that on the fourth day
after the birth Of your child you
secretly removed 1t from the
ranch house of Mrs. Robbins?"
You knew it was a raw, freez-
ing day?"
II don't know"
You knew your child was
"They said So"
You left note saying that
you sent the nurse away be-
cause she would oppose your
going. So you knew it was a
dangerous thing to take the child
from the house.
Chickie was suddenly standing
at its basket again, seeing the
small, unprotesting face. dream
ing OF placing it in her mothers
arms-giving it to them---to
Jennie and the Jonathan. She
glanced upward. her eyes be-
seeching. She said family, II
couldn't leave it couldn't go
and leave it."
why did you go?"
n I1lCEStIEsS-1 Iidu Il IIleSSdBe--
THAT your mother was dying.
Is this the message you mean?"
Chickie nodded. Now she sat
lower in the chair. She clasped
and unclasped h@ hands. Her
eyes seemed to grow large-to
take up with their tragic appeal
the Wilderness Of her face.
You got message that your
mother was dying, and you left,
taking the baby with you? You
intended to take this child to your
dying mother"
A Pickering smile, half wild,
went about 'Chickie's mouth.
She said: ''Yes-oh--you see
you see"
You were to bring the child to
them, although a week before its
birth you sent this telegram" He
held up a yellow slip. of paper. He
read the frantic message Chickie
had sent. Oh, that was when she
was snowbound in the mountains
she couldn't get to them. He
read this. The men and women
packed into the heated room,
with the sun streaming like
warm liquid even through the
drawn shades-these men and
women craned forward, drinking
expectantly the pitiful revelation
of Chickie's Observation-Disclosures
forlorn, lost fight to hide the shame
and the tragedy.
Jonathan, had called: "In Gods
name, come-Jennie is sinking"
That was the day she had rush
ed to the closet, grabbed the black
silk cape, draping it wildly about
her-flinging her head back--she
was -going-ah--but she
had seen her image and the cold
ness of her blood went into her
heart. It became a leaden thing.
No-she hadn't gone. She had
wired: I'm coming-travel slow
on these awful mountains. l have
terrible sprained ankle. I may
be delayed"
She went back now to that des-
perate hour-lost and helpless in
it. The coroner spoke twice.
Agnes Robbins tapped her Shout
der before she heard:
You were not in the mountains
when this message was sent. Isn't
1t fact that you were in the val
ley and on the ranch of Mrs.
Robbins at this time and that you
were then awaiting the birth Of
your child?"
A slight, responding nod.
ION the day your child was born
you received another message, ask
ing why you were delayed. You
sent no answer to this. Isn't it
a fact, Mrs. Clayton, that you
went to great lengths to keep
secret the birth of your child?"
Chickie looked about the room,
imploring, distracted. The faces
with their lighted eagerness
frightened her. She moved her
hands outward-such pretty hands
in a little beseeching gesture.
She said: you see-well, you
see"
The lawyer interrupted: You
may answer the question later,
Mrs. Clayton. 1t has no bearing
so far shown, on the case"
Il will show it's bearing, Mr..
Attorney. This witness states
that she left, taking her child
with her and that she intended to
take it to her dying mother.
not intend to take it home. That
she felt herself forced to some
other disposal of the child
Show these facts, Mr.. Cor
oner-"
you admit stealing from the
ranch house, Mrs. Clayton, You
went down the river road. It was
windy. Tell about it. Tell about
that walk along the river road"
Chtckie put up her hand, shield
ing her face. Sounds came to her
lips-low, strangled. The lawyer
whispered: Tell it. Mrs. Clay.
ton-try to speak louder"
Chickie rose little-and her
hands flew suddenly to her breast.
She said: 'Oh-it was cold-and"
she told them-of the baby-its
soft hair--its cheek against her
neck-and then so quiet and the
flicker of it's lips and she had laid
1t on the ground and blew her
breath in its mouth and tried to
warm ii. There was the picture
or n-and of the pale, frantic
thing kneeling beside it-trying to
keep it's life. She said: II didn't
know-I put it hereunder my
coat-it was so still-it didn't
move"
She sank back in the chair, COW
ering her face.
The coroner said: You put it
under your coat?"
Without moving her hand from
her eyes. Chickie nodded.
You held it close against you
ana RAM"
She nodded again - she said
faintly: "Oh-you see-you see"
aKNn nla--fhnnn H.