The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-01-19

| the page she wanted, and reeled back
against a cupboard of which the
doors creaked. IT'S impossible
| THE duchess . oh, nonsense" She
grew calmer Look here, don't you
remember the rest? Wasn't there also
in the upper corner three lions?"
Well, now you mention it, there
was something like three crouching
cats
The night matron sat down with
a crash. Then. in whisper, she said:
Her grace the duchess of Farnshire
his lordship John Asdrubal
/ Peter Mark Redvers Merwin
born a week ago stolen. Oh
what are we going to do?" For
moment she buried her face in her
hands. Then. suddenly, she looked
up, and l saw that Mrs. Colds Nurs-
ing Home was properly organized.
for the night of matron brightly re-
marked: After all. I'm only indi
rectly responsible. The night sister
has charge of her grace's floor
will ring for her"
We waited for some minutes, dur
/ ing which I kept silence, and the
night matron read THE Morning
/ Post" which had just arrived, so as
/ to convey that she was not going to
stay on my level. The night sister
was tall, gaunt. Scotch looking wom-
an, in hospital garb. She closed the
/ door behind her, stood in front of the
desk. expressing no surprise at hav
/ ing been sent for.
"Oh, by the way, Sister" said the
how
nothing to report?"
No
This gentleman comes to me with
a singular tale. I suppose you would
/ like to hear it, The sisters features
did not move Then. in less words
than l had myself used, and with
greater dignity. the night matron re-
cited the story which I have already
told. She ended by: "That is this
| gentIeman's story. sister Evidently
/ 1t is perfectly ridiculous.
Not at all" said the Sister. -
How do you mean? I thought
YOU said that you had nothing to re-
port"
Il did not propose TO report any
thing for the moment
Excitement invaded me. Something
had happened. then. How do you
mean?" said the matron, acidly. You
know quite wei you are supposed to
report anything that happens
Yes. In due course.
Now look here, Sister said the
matron. standing up. no complaint
has ever been made against you, and
7 do not want to make one now, but
there are limits to what you may
keen to yourself There are limits TO
the initiative which you are allowed
to show. This gentleman suggests
that the Duchess Of Farnshire's baby
has been kidnapped. You know some
thing about it. You viii please report
| it. and forthwith"
Evidently the matron had a strong
character, for the Scotch woman was
forced to talk:
About twenty-five minutes to one,
last night" she began in an even
monotone, II was engaged on my last
round upon the first floor. In so do
ing I entered the bathroom The blind
/ having been pulled up, l was able to
notice. across the well. that light
was burning In the dressing room at
/ tached TO the duchess room. This
being against orders. or unusual.
was about to proceed to that room,
when observed on the blind the
/ shadow TO two persons"
/ who is in charge Of her gTace?'
asked the matron.
Nurse Marden. She is single
handed I therefore proceeded to that
room and found Nurse Marden en-
gagged in clothing a baby for the
street A young person was in the
ROOM
There I shouted. IT told you So"
go on" said the matron. please"
'I asked for an explanation" said
the Sister. THE young person first
attempted to run out Of the room,
! but grim smile for the first
time covered the Scottish features.
st soon stopped that. She thereupon
session of his lordship. AS for the
other baby -. -
1.-THE other babyr' shrieked the ma
iron. How do you mean? Do you
mean to say there was another baby?"
Naturally" said the Sister at
was proposed to exchange the
babies
by Jove!' I cried, Now I see.
Look here. 7 told you I saw the
| girl meet somebody. That person
gave her the baby The matron
looked at me with lesser contempt
Possibly you are right. Please
go on. Sister. What did you do?''
IT considered the situation. It is
never well to act in a hurry. So I
locked them into the room while
went out into the corridor to think.
However, retained possession of
his lordship. He was fortunately
asleep. Then, deciding upon my
course, went into the room and
obtained FROM the young person
complete confession. Her sister Is
very undesirable, and had proposed
to send her own child to a baby
farm to be done away with, as is
usual. It seems, however, that she
did not have the heart to go on
with this. So she entered into a
plot with the young person and with
Nurse Marden, since they are three
sisters The intention was to SUBJ
stitute the other baby for his lord
chip. and to send his lordship to the
baby farm
I felt lump in my throat as
she recited this story. 1t was tragic