Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-05-01
than l thought l would

and fellow guest during the Christmas
holidays In the Upper home, but Mr..
Davis was absorbed in his book and
did not lift his eyes.
Say, Bill,' Roger pleaded In u
hoarse whisper, after his sister had
gone upstairs, you tell her, won't your
You're guest, and-and, she can't
say much to you"
Bill lowered his book and regarded
his roommate with cold and unim-
pressed eye.
Il like your nerve," he said finally.
Against my better judgment you In
sist on carrying out the diabolical joke
of leaving four-months-old infant on
the doorsteps in raging blizzard"
"Diabolical nothing" Roger inter-
rupted. "The kid is used to sleeping
out in snOwstorms; Mabels one Of
these fresh-alr fiends; 1t was a good
deal warmer out on the porch than It
was In the nursery"
And then" Bill continued, ignoring
the interruption, you have the con-
summate nerve to ask me to spring the
pleasant little surprise on your sister.
Not much! The female of the species
1t not to be trifed with when her"
Jaw, shut upW Roger exclaimed.
How was to know Lem had u guilty
conscience? Why couldn't he have be-
haved like any other human being
would have behavior The Idea Of not
recognizing his own kid. He's the poor
est excuse for a man ever saw, any
how. Mabel must have married him
on bet. He's the"
Mr.. Roger Merwin's pleasant dis
sertatlon on his brother-in-law was cut
short by the loud and insistent ringing
of an electric bell somewhere in the
rear of the house. This was followed
by the quick patter of footsteps on the
stairs, and then excited voices over
head.
Had Mrs. Upper, when an instant
later she burst into the living room,
been bit less intent on reaching the
telephone, she would have caught sight
of two young men making flying exit
through the portieres which hid the
dining room from view.
"Give me the police station, quick,
quick |" the trembling practical Jokers
heard her cry out. Hurry, oh, hurry,
please, there's been a kldnaping-oh,
the police statiOnf Send an officer at
once My baby's been kidnapped At
once, do you hearf He's been stolen, l
say Oh, do be quick Oh, 200 Elm
street-Mrs. Tupper's. My baby's
been kidnapedp
At the word Kidnapped" as though
It were the cue for his entrance upon
the scene, Lemuel Upper stepped into
the living room from the hall. He was
somewhat agltated In fact, his little
side whiskers twitched with suppressed
emotion, but his wife noticed nothing.
"Lemuelr she shrieked, "baby's
gone! Stolenl Kidnapped! What shall
we dor"
Comet" her husband echoed weak
ly. "Stolen, Kidnapped What do you
mean? How can he be gomez"
He's stolen, tell you--stolenl He
was asleep In the nursery when / went
out; when / came back he was gone.
Mary knows nothing about him; she
hasn't been upstairs, thought he was
still asleep. Oh, do something, for
Gods sake, do something; don't stand
there staring like that |"
A great light had burst upon the In
telllgence Of Mr. Upper. He had car
irled his own son and heir to the police
station He had found that child on
his front doorsteps together with
'f1endlshly discriminating note. His
'brother-in-law was guest The whole
thing was laid bare. Roger Merwln's
.diabOllcal sense of humor was at the
bottom Of this affair; but how could he
confess to Mabel that he had failed to
recognize his own flesh and blood. That
he had scarcely glanced at the infant
would be no excuse; never, never
would she be able to forgive him. Oh,
the Internal scoundrel The lmpu-
dent, heartless cub! What vengeance
would he not like to wreak upon this
miserable brother-in-law of his At
the imminent risk of an apoplectlc
seizure, he managed to remain silent
for a moment.
"Where," he asked, at last, as that
brother of yours?"
II don't know; he was here mo
ment ago; but he doesn't know any
thing about It. | asked him when |
came In if-Lemuel, you don't sup
pose oh, he couldn't be so cruel!"
"He couldn't, eh2 Well, that's just
what has happened and he's made
fool Of me into the bargain 70
1t was hysterical Mrs. Upper that,
some moments later, snatched from the
protecting arms OF the law, her first
born.
THANK you, SIR" said the officer to
Mr.. Upper, as a yellow-backed bill
changed hands-"nOt a word from me,
sir, you can rely on it,"
He squeaked heavily to the front
door, and turned helmet In hand, for q
parting pleasantly:
"'Tis wise father, nowadays, that
knows his own child; amt itf"
Mr.. Upper entered the living room
and stirred up the fire until there was |
a cheerful blaze. Then, with a guilty |
look over his shoulder, he removed |
from his pocket note, the first words
Of which were: lem dear"
He tarried so long over the cere-
mony Of burning the last scrap Of this
loathsome document that he failed to
the transformations departure
" his erstwhlle guests.
II wonder" Roger unused, as they
'louched into an obscure corner Of the
railway station, ~ wonder II he'll show
hat note to Mabel must ask her
sometime"
"YOu," his friend commanded, leave
we'll enough alone You have done
1uite sufficiency. Enough IL too
much I"
No coll tho host