The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-10-28


 trace of her whereabouts. CHRIS SAUNDERS, Norma's former roOmmate, helps her find a job. Marks father employs detec' tives to trail the girl. They un- earth records showing that Norma three years before had been con- victed on a vice charge. In spite of evidence that the charge was framed Travers sends his lawyer to Paris to engineer a divorce. Weeks later Norma receives u letter tell ing her the decree has been grant ed.
 In August Norma's son is born. .When the baby is six months old Norma returns to her former job. One Sunday Marks mother sees her with the baby. A few days later she is called home from the office. The baby is gone.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XLIII
 Norma leaned helplessly against the door, "Gone?" she repeated as though she had not heard cor. rectly. Why, what do you mean ?'
 Mrs Carey nodded. "The baby's gone" she said. 'I couldn't stop them. I did everything l could but the woman came back with po- liceman-"
 White, wild-eyed, Norma seemed suddenly to clutch at the other woman's meaning. Where's ne gone ?" she shrieked. where IS Mark? Oh, what's happened? ~, She grasped Mrs Carey's arm and would have shaken her.
 The other woman stepped back. Mercy, Mrs Travers, you mustn | carry on like this! It's terrible l know, but I couldn't stop them. You've got to get hold of yourself: I'll tell you just what happened II you'll listen."
 Norma ran to Marks bed. The little blanket was rumpled and thrown back but the bed was emp ty. Norma whirled.
 Where is he?" she cried. Why don't you tell me what's happened? :? Oh, Mark, Mark!-my little baby where is he?"
 Tt was all of five minutes before Mrs Carey could get the story out. The woman was pathetic In her helplessness. Mrs Carey said she was washing dishes from her noon day lunch when there was a knock at the door. She opened it to face a woman who said she came from the city welfare department. She wanted to know if Mrs Norma fravers lived in the apartment and then asked to see the baby.
 II thought it was queer,' Mrs Carey said, but I let her come in. Mark was in his bed, not asleep, but just lying there with those big eyes wide open. The woman looked at him and asked how old he was. Then she said there'd been a complaint about six-months old baby being neglected and that shed come to take the child. l told her she'd do no such thing! l said l was taking care of the baby and being paid for 1t and if anyone said Mark was being neglected he was natural-born liar. Well, supposed that was all there'd be to it. She went away but about 10 minutes later she was back with a policeman beside her.
 ''What could l do Mrs Travers The policeman said it was right and I'd have to let her take the baby. By that time I was SO flus- tered l couldn't hardly tell my own name. They said they were taking Mark to keep until after there'd been an investigator or some- thing like that. I got out his little coat and bonnet to keep him warm and he began to cry as soon as the woman picked him up. The minute they left I telephoned to you! There's something wrong, I know that much! With you slaving away and working so hard for that baby, Why, the very ideal"
 Norma stopped her. She had been weeping but now she dried her eyes. Do you know where they went?" she demanded. We've got to find Mark!"
 "There's big office down at the city hall" Mrs Carey volunteered sI was down there once. It's the place where the men work who run the welfare department. That might be the place to go. l don't know thought don't know if you'd find the baby there!"
 Already Norma was on her feet. "You've got to come with me, Mrs Carey!" she declared s'we've got to get Mark! Come on ---there isn't any time to lose! wen have to hurry!"
 With her coat pulled on over her house dress, a felt hat jammed on at an angle, Mrs Carey was half-pushed and half-pulled down tae two flights of stairs. On the street Norma signaled a taxicat and told the driver to take them to the city hall.
 During the ride Norma alter uately wept and asked questions ahe wanted to know what the woman had said. What did she mean by saying Mark was neg Iected? Who had complained?
 Mrs Carey repeated what she ha6 ~afd before. There was nothing new. The woman was almost a' distraught as Norma herself. Sht was in no condition to comfort the
 .How're they going to get thu haby's formula right?" she moaned ssfIe ought to be having his bottle rIght now. Like as not he's crying for if. the poor little darling"
 Norme twined icy fingers to- ~ether. She was staring ahead al though she had not heard.
 me cab stopped and the womer ~of out. They went up stone stepi s-S into d marble -f1oored corridor 1frs Carey led the way down a mar, ~~-er passage to a door marked ssrsitv Welfare Department"
 ssThis is the place. she "his' uered and opened the door.
 . X W0mGY