OF THE U N I VLRS ITY or I LLI NOIS 813 M3\55k Return this book on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for disciplinary action and may result in dismissal from the University. University of Illinois Library 18 !?SS L161— O-1096 He (^jave one Pi. uiM.i:. t ui.w akd a.m) da^siied away at full speed. See page 280. Kidnapped OR Secrets of a Great Mystery. Truth is stranger than fiction J' BY A. STEWART MANLY. Copiously Illustrated by H» S» DeLay* <• CHICAGO: RHODES & McCI^URB PUB. CO., 1907 INDEX. CHAPTER I. AT UNCLE NED*S. The man with the motley gray eyes. A midnight wedding. A tour from which the bride never returns 17-25 CHAPTER IL THE LITTLE STRANGER. Mysterious strangers. Suspicious whisperings. The man's eourage fails, and the scheme falls through for the present. A child behind the curtains of the old-fashioned bed. A link of love is formed that lasts through life 26-36 CHAPTER III. MRS. CLARE. A child in her dying mother's arms. Strange revelations. Ves- per bells ring out on the clear night air. A funeral dirge and marriage bells 37-44 CHAPTER IV. THE OLD BROKEN HOUSE. Accidental meeting. A funeral. A sick child. A jealous boy. A cruel landlord. A pauper funeral d5-59 viii INDEX. CHAPTER V. THE SNOW STORM. A visit from country friends. Jonathan Geddiz and Aunt 'Mandy. Feigned illness. Strange and mutual love between Minnie Merrill and Nellie Clare, the orphan child 60-72 CHAPTER Vr. FANNIE AS NURSE. Efforts at reconciliation. Dr. Bein*s generosity. The storm rages in wild fury 73-84 CHAPTER VII. THE AWAKENING. A visit to Stewart's store. Shaking hands with the man in the mirror. Aunt 'Mandy follows Mrs. Baldwin to the velvet depart- ment. The elevator goes up. A new life-work begins 85-99 CHAPTER VIII. BRIGTHENING PROSPECTS. The gude wife's counsel and gifts. Nellie convalescing. Jane Coil solicited as nurse and companion for Mrs. Bein 100-109 CHAPTER IX. SCENES AT THE BALDWIN HOUSE. Aunt 'Mandy as general superiutendant. Two invalids. A stampede of feet on the back stairs. Eavesdropping. A doctor's plans frustrated. Aunt 'Mandy victorious 110-125 CHAPTER X. THE NEW HOME. Aunt ^Mandy investigates and discharges the servants. McClel- lan visits and reports to Mrs. Baldwin. An intercepted letter. A frantic woman. Jane Coil and Nellie Clare at Dr. Bein's. Minnie is convalescing 126-138 CHAPTER XI. SEARCHING. Minnie's fruitless search for Nellie at the " Old Broken House." INDEX. IX McClellan also has as fruitleps a search for the same child. Vile slandering by Miss Duncan 139-167 CHAPTER XII. FITFUL MOODS. •A forged telegraph dispatch Longings for a wise counselor. Little Jonathan builds a snow man instead of dying. Mrs. Bald- win's deceptive nature crops out. Words of warning. Minnie is in her power 158-170 CHAPTER XIIL PLOTTINGS. The dying woman's secret not revealed. A pleasant ride. False alarm. Mrs. Baldwin's fit of hysteria. A lonely day for Minnie MerrUl 171-183 CHAPTER XIV. KIDNAPED. A falsehood acted. Misdirected. Nellie gone. Wild excite- ment. The search, mystery finally solved. The three ambrotypes. Uncle Ned perplexed 184-203 CHAPTER XV. THE BEAUTIFUL MANIAC AT LONG BRANCH. A game of croquet. Anxious matters. Curiosity on tip-toe. Minnie exasperated. Uncle Ned*s eyes opening. Scandal ripe. 204-216 CHAPTER XVI. PREDICTION VERIFIED. Poison in the wine-glass. A night of intense excitement. Uncle Ned found dead. A beautiful sight in the death chamber. A let- ter found. Nellie found a grave in Paris 217-226 CHAPTER XVII. THE NIGHT CHASE. Aunt 'Mandy acts as detective. An exciting drive. A serious accident befalls Jonathan Geddiz. Aunt 'Mandy's devotion and regrets 227-243 z INDEX. CHAPTER XVIII. THE NEW NEIGHBOR. The adopted child. A Missionary Sewing society with gossip on the wing:. Mrs. Geddiz plans to have the next meeting and reveal a mystery. A treacherous neighbor. A flight in the night. 244-259 CHAPTER XIX. A QUIET WEDDING. No school boys^ love. Miss Caruthers, of the old tenement house, makes strange revelations. Tommie adopted by Dr. Bein. A young lawyer. Gone into the army. Disloyal utterances. , A new name that brings a fortune 260-272 CHAPTER XX. AN UNEXPECTED GUEST A* BROADTOP. Brazen impudence. Retribution. Aunt 'Mandy forgives. Death of Christine Baldwin. Was the full penalty paid ?. 273-283 CHAPTER XXI. THE LITTLE WANDERER. A long and weary some journey. The good Samaritan. A home at last. Millie, the blind girl of Cleveland. Perfect peace 284-296 CHAPTER XXII. NEW TRIALS. A journey to the sunny south. A funeral at Mt. Auburn. The sad brown eyes. A new link in love's chain. The two coflSns brought back to Cleveland 297-310 CHAPTER XXIII. AT OAK GROVE. Days of anxiety. A will is made. Minnie married by Millie's death-bed. What visitors at Oakland cemetery saw in those days. 311-317 INDEX. xi CHAPTER XXIV. DESERTED. Little Mildred. A guest enteitained. Mysterious footsteps. Slander gathering a golden harvest. Going back to the old farm in B . Frantic grief 318-326 CHAPTER XXV. WITH THE WOUNDED. The old church hospital at Burksville. Captain Ford wounded. The dying bless the sweet songster. The old man's confession. A letter written. The brown-eyed soldier. The cluster of rose-buds. 327-339 CHAPTER XXVI. THE ILL-FATED PEW ABIC. A happy company. A mysterious meeting. A beautiful sun- set. A wreck on Lake Huron. A night of wild terror. A heroic woman. Songs of the dying. Sweet exhibitions of faith in God. 340-352 CHAPTER XXVII. THE UNEXPECTED VOYAGE. A pleasant journey with a sad ending. Grand fete given the Vice Roy of Egypt. Hampton Court palace. The unsolved prob- lem. Deep grief 353-360 CHAPTER XXVIII. IN SAN FRANCISCO. The hopes of years crumble to ashes at her feet. New resolves. New friends. The old dying soldier's confession revived in mem-, ory. Brooding over a strange eventful life. A change of scene and rest is prescribed. A heart that is a sealed book 361-372 CHAPTER XXIX. MINERAL PARK. A trip to Arizona. Highway robbery. Skulking Indians. Charlie, the China boy. Court in session. Banquet and ball in honor of newly elected judge. A brilliant company. The little white coffin. Visits of mercy 373-387 xii INDEX. CHAPTER XXX. AUNT 'MANDY's tour. Salt Lake City. Brigham Young lying in state. Aunc 'Mandy thinks she recognizes one of the Mrs. Youngs. At San Francisco. The stolen child the favx)rite theme of conversation. A talk on scriptural texts. A pleasant hour 388-409 CHAPTER XXXI. PEWABIC KEMINISCENCES. A winter spent at Phoenix City. Pleasant drives. A sorrowful history given. Engaged in marriage. Return to San Francisco. Dr. and Mrs. Bein guests at the cottage. A surprise in store. 410-421 CHAPTER XXXII. THANKSGIVING. Successful surprise. The cherished little yields up its sec ret in strange revelations. Great joy. Re-united at last. The " some- time" has come at last. A happy home. The dove finds rest. 422-428 CHAPTEE I. AT "UNCLE NEd's." The sun was under a cloud, the wind was lulled to rest, and the light, fleecy snow was falling gently upon the ice-crusted streets of New York City, imprinting and kissing lightly, and then melting away upon many a fair cheek, but on none more fair and rosy than that of the one who said : " Yes, this is the place. I remember it well." It was a sweet girlish voice, half speaking to herself and half to the driver of a close carriage, as he opened the door to assist her in alighting in front of Ned Baldwin's stately brown-stone residence on Fifth Avenue, New York City. "Oh, how glad I am to see you, Cousin Minnie,'' said Nellie Baldwin, rushing forward as the servant opened the door and let her in, and throwing her arms about her neck, embraced her warmly. " Come right into mamma's room, for the other room^ are all topsy-turvy, undergoing a thorough renovation. I was so afraid you wouldn't get here, and you know I have had my heart set on your being my first bridesmaid, and never could have survived the disappointment. Did you get my 17 2 18 A DARK PLOT IN NEW YORK SOCIETY; last letter, or rather my note ? I had no time for long letters after we set the day." " Yes," said Minnie, " I got one the day before I started, dated December twenty-third." "That was it/' said Nellie, "and you started the next day? " " Yes," said Minnie, laughing, " and it was a whirl- ing time. For all I had been holding myself in readines for the summons for some time, it came sudden at last. You know I had to go some distance to the Cincinnati depot to take the morning train. But here I am, and plenty of time to rest." By this time they had reached Mrs. Baldwin's room and Nellie, in her happiest voice, called out: " O, Mamma, here is Cousin Minnie." Mrs. Baldwin was reclining on a sofa, apparently asleep, but on being aroused to consciousness by her daughter's excited tones, arose and came languidly for- ward. "Oh, Aunty, are you sick?" said Minnie, to which Mrs. Baldwin's reply was after her manner of answer- ing questions of that kind, evading it if possible. "Oh, Minnie, is this you? I really was in hopes you would not come before to-morrow, as everything is stirred up from garret to cellar, and I do not know where we can put you." "Withdrawing her hand, which she had placed lang- uidly in Minnie's warm grasp, she drew together the heavily-quilted silk fronts of her easy dress, and step- ping to the door, said, "just w^ait a moment, Mc- Clellan." The man spoken to put his hands down deep into A STORY OF REAL LIFE. 19 his pants pockets, and rolling his quid of tobacco around in his mouth, sauntered up to the door, and as he stood glaring in upon the trio, as they conferred together in regard to the temporary disposal of Minnie and her baggage, made the unfavorable impression upon Min- nie's mind of which we find a pen picture in a memo- randum, kept during her stay in the city. " The most disgusting sight I ever beheld was that •man, tall, round-shouldered, hat set jauntily on the side of his head, one leg of his brown pants tucked in the top of his coarse, unblacked boots, long, faded brown chin-whiskers, a pair of motley gray eyes looking out from under long, shaggy brows." " Why, Mamma," said Nellie, I thought you had decided to put her in Grandma's room, if she came before we were settled. I'm sure its quite comfortable and pleasant there. Janet lighted the fire full two hours ago, and I looked in a few moments since, and found it quite cheery." "Well then, McClellan," said Mrs. Baldwin, address- ing the man, " you can take the things there for the present. You know where it is, at the right-hand side of the rear end of the hall, on the third floor." After taking a survey of the baggage, he took up one of the trunks and marched away whistling "Yankee Doodle." His whole appearance and conduct was so at vari- ance with that of her aunt's usually well-trained ser- vants, that she was at a loss to account for his presence in that capacity. The two girls followed soon afterwards, meeting him at the first landing, as he was returning for the second 20 A DARK PLOT IN NEW YORK SOCIETY; installment of ''luggage," as he said. At this re- mark, Minnie involuntary glanced up, meeting the impudent gaze of those motley gray eyes, which sent through her a shivering sensation, just such a sensation as one feels when coming suddenly upon some loath- some reptile; and from that moment she had an unde- fined feeling of fear — a dread of meeting him, which she tried to banish, thinking him one of the trusty ser- vants of her Uncle's establishment, consequently, must be all right. As they walked through the long hall, with arms entwined lovingly around each other, Nellie told her of the great preparations being made for her wedding, which, she said, would ''come off" in just two days. "And what do you think?" she continued, "Papa says I must be married at midnight just as the new year is coming in, and Mamma and I have concluded to humor him in this singular whim. You know he never did want anything like other folks ; besides that I think it will be quite romantic, don't you? All the elite of the city are to be here, and they are going to dance up to the wed- ding hour. Oh, Minnie, I am just dying to know what you are going to \vear." And without waiting to hear what she had just declared she was " dying to hear," rattled away in her happy, excited way: " I am to wear white satin with real lace and orange blossoms, and oh ! Mr. O f erton has given me such lovely diamonds, and Mamma wishes me to wear them. My en- tire outfit is magnificent. But what is your dress for the occasion?" Minnie answered in her usual calm way, " I shall be r A STOKY OF REAL LIFE. 21 very near your counterpart; too near, I am afraid, to have the contrast whicli makes the bride the prominent personage she should be on such occasions; but then I shall trim with either blue or pink; could not decide until I learned which your second bridesmaid preferred, so that we would not be alike.'' "Oh," said Nellie, "she has blue; she looks splendid in that, but horrid in any other color." By this time they were standing in the middle of Grandma's room, Nellie assisting her cousin in dispos- ing of her wraps and kissing her over and over again in the ecstacy of her girlish delight, when, suddenly glanc- ing up at the tall wooden clock in the corner, slie was reminded of an engagement, and asked to be excused, saying : " I have an engagement at Madam Griswold's, my dressmaker, in just thirty minutes. I will tell Janet to bring lunch to your room and you can rest, as you must be w^eary after so long a trip. Our dinner hour is six o'clock. 1 shall be back in time, so be happy and rest all you can while I am away, for I assure you it will be but little rest you will get when I am around, for I expect to talk you almost blind." Just then the man entered with the remainder of Minnie's baggage, and, looking at her with a sickly grin, said: " I guess from the amount of luggage, somebody intends to fill Nelly's place for awhile, at table at least;" and with an extra grin at his own remark, which he evidently thought quite shrewd, he shrugged his hump't shoulders and made his exit from the room. "Who is that man, Cousin?" said Minnie. "Is he 22 A DARK PLOT IN NEW YORK SOCIETY; a servant? if he is, he is by far too familiar, I think. Do you not? " " He is not a servant," said Nellie, in a vexed tone, ^'and yet he is too, in one sense of the word. 1 really don't know what lie is more than an impu- dent old man; his sister and her husband are ten- ants on papa's farm, and he lives with them. You know papa has two farms, one is Mamma's and the other is Grandpa Baldwin's, and when he died he left it in Papa's care, and the two men have charge of both, as they join, and this man brings in our vegetables and fruit, and when we need any extra help mamma gets him to come. He did something once that he was sent to prison for, and while he was there his wife got married to some one who took her West. I always dread to have him around, but then he does just whatever Mamma wants him to, and she seems to like him and talks a great deal to him lately; perhaps she thinks she can make a better man of him. I hope she can, for Papa says he has been an awful bad man, but he says he thinks he is all right now, at least you need not be afraid" of him, he wouldn't dare harm you." So saying, she kissed her again, and went laughingly out of the room. As she went trip- ping down one flight of stairs after the other Minnie heard her sweet, clear voice warbling a happy song. The sound w^as soon lost in the distance, and Minnie was alone — alone in Grandma's room. She had been there five years before, then Grandma was there; now she is sleeping out in Greenwood, and save for her presence, she could see no change. The old-fashioned high-post bedstead, with its great figured calico cur- tains edged with white netting. The little, low stand A STORY OF REAL LIFE. 23 with its white cloth finished with the same trimming, upon which lay the old family Bible, and thumb-worn hymn book. The tall brass candlestick with its candle burned low. The snuflfers, bright as of yore, lay in the glittering tray. The old clock in the corner, the two plaster-paris vases of bright colored fruit, on either end of the mantle, with two green parrots of the same material, and various other small ornaments. The rag carpet, the split-bottomed rocking-chair, the tall bureau with its glass knobs, and the lounge with soft feather cushions, covered with the same gray figured calico as the bed curtains. How comfortable and old- fashioned it looked, and Minnie seemed to hear Grandma say again as she had heard her years ago: " It is just as I had it out on the farm for years, and your Uncle Ned said if I would feel more at home with it here 1 might bring it all along, and after it was here and put in place, he said he rather liked it, for it reminded him of the old days at home." While she was feasting her eyes on those dear old relics, and recalling the many happy hours spent there, Janet came in with a tempt- ing little lunch, saying as she deposited it upon a chair near Minnie: " Please, ma'am, when you are through, you will put the tray on the stand in the hall, so I need not disturb you again. Miss Nellie says you are weary and would like to rest." Minnie remembered Janet as one of the trusty ser- vants of her uncle's household whose good traits she had learned to appreciate during her former visits, and being recognized by Minnie, was well pleased, and 24 A DARK PLOT IN NEW YORK SOCIETY; from that hour would have made any sacrifice to render her service. Minnie was aroused from a refreshing sleep by the simultaneous ringing of the dinner bell and Nellie's kiss upon her cheek. On their way through the wide, deep hall to the dining room, they were met by Uncle Ned, wlio was just coming from his library, and evi- dently iiad not heard of the arrival of his neice. At first glance he did not seem to recognize her, but suddenJy a bright smile lit up his genial face, and he came hiirriedly forward, clapping and rubbing his hands together* and exclaiming: "Well, well; if here isn't a little chick that I am very glad to see." And drawing her close up to his great, warm heart, kissed her over and ov-er again, asking questions and not waiting for an answer, quite as rapidly and girlish as Nellie had done a few hours previous. But his were of a different nature, he asking all manner of questions about the folks at home, especially " Pet," as he termed Minnie's mother, a name he had given her when a child, and he not only continued the name, but the same brotherly fondness for her who ranged next younger years to himself. The dinner hour passed pleasantly away, the conver- sation being kept up principally by Minnie and Uncle Ned, as Mr. Baldwin was familarly called by a large circle of friends, on account of his free, affectionate manners with all, especially the younger ones. As they left the dinner table, a servant handed Nellie two caros, at which she gave a hasty glance, and turn- ing to Minnie, said, in a mock, airy way: I GUESS FROM THE AMOUNt\)P LUGGAGE, SOMEBODY INTENDS TO FILL Nellie's place for a while.*' See page 21. A STORY OF REAL LIFE. 25 " Messrs. Chandler and Overton are in waiting to be presented to Miss Merrill, the belle of Mt. Auburn, so we will go right in, as I see written in pencil on Mr. Overton's card, just five minutes to stay; don't keep us waiting, please." Mr. Chandler, as Minnie understood, was the one selected as first groomsman, and she hesitated about being presented to him for the first time in her dinner dress. " Never mind, come right along," said Nellie, " they know the hour, and it is only because it is the only conve- nient hour for Mr. Chandler to come that they are here it this time, and if he doesn't like your appearance," said she, with a merry twinkle in her eye, he can just get gick and be excused from the painful ordeal of stand- ing by your side and playing the gallant to-morrow night; pretty kettle ot fish that would be, wouldn't it?" meantime pushing up and twirling around a stray curl of Minnie's chestnut brown hair, saying: ''Now, drive aw^ay that weary look and be your own sweet self, and you will be all right. Come on now; forward, march, all ready, going — going — gone," and with the last word spoken in an undertone, they entered the room with a pleased expression lighting up their fresh young faces. Happy, guileless hearts were theirs, upon which the infant hand of time had written neither sorrow nor pain, and life's morning hours were tinged with the bright golden hues of promise. Alas! that it should prove aught else. CHAPTER II. THE LITTLE STRANGER. After an hour spent pleasantly, if one may judge by the length of the '^just five minutes," Mr. Chandler asked to be excused, as with him it was "business before pleasure." Minnie soon followed his example, giving as her excuse, not being sufficiently rested to be entertaining. Sit still, Nellie," said she, as she was about to arise to accompany her, " I shall have no difficulty in finding my room." And with a good night to the two whose lite joy was nearing its zenith, she tripped lightly up the long winding flights of stairs. The halls below were brilliantly lighten, while in the upper ones the gas was turned so low that she could not tell whether it was a man or woman she saw glide from her door into the one opposite, as she was approach- ing. She found the door closed, but saw, upon entering the room, that the fire had lately been replenished, the gas lighted but turned quite low, and concluded it was the servant who had been attending to that work, that she had seen crossing the hall, and thought no more of it. Seating herself on a hassock, in front of the grate, she began uncoiling her long, rich braids. She had on entering left her door slightly ajar — leaving the lights turned down as she found them. In a few mm- utes she heard the creaking sound as of a door Deing cautiously opened, and soon after soft footsteps on the velvet carpet of the hall. In a moment more she neard 26 A STORY OF REAL LIFE. 27 voices — some persons talking in an undertone. She went to the door, and as she did so, she heard a voice which sounded like her aunt's, saying: " McClellan is that you? didn't you get her? " To which the gruff voice of a man answered in a tone something like a coarse whisper: " No; I looked at her while she slept and 1 thought it too bad to disturb her, and then slie nestled up close to the pillows, and said in her dreams, ' Oh, my pretty mamma, I love you so much; kiss your little girl once more.' And she put her little lips up to the pillow and kissed it over and over again, and I tell you, I hadn't the heart to touch her." " Why, McClellan, are you so chicken-hearted as all that?" said the woman, " It will never do to put it off, for just as sure as you do, you lose that farm." " Well," said he, " I overheard Jane say to J anet, when I was fixing the water pipes down in the kitchen to-day, that the mother could not last but a few days at the farthest, and I thought it too bad to rob her of her only comfort just as she was going out; but I tell you now what I'll do, I'll keep a close lookout, and just as soon as she is under the sod, I'll get the child and take her to a safe place, and then there'll be no one to feel bad or make a fuss. I hate a fuss — I've been in one all my life — but when I was behind those high walls, and had a chance to thinky I made up my mind that when Jim McClellan got out into the world again, he would be a better man, and keep out of such things; but I suppose it is ' fate ' that follows some people, and resolve as they will, it will conquer. " Of course, I don't mean to say there is anything 28 A DARK PLOT IN NFW YORK SOCIETY; wrong in this, after she is gone, for the child will need a home, and some one to take care of her, and it will be a Christian act — quite a missionary work." And he chuckled at what he thought a witty speech. Yes," said the woman, " but she is no stupid woman, and she may put papers in the hands of some one who may take immediate steps in the matter." Well," said McClellan, for there was no doubt but that it was him, what good will it do, or harm either, for that matter, if the woman is dead, and the child can't be found? " Oh," said the woman, the disgrace of exposure would be terrible. 1 could not survive it with my poor, weak nerves. It must not, it shall not be." And she grew excited at the thought of what might be. " Whist! not so loud," said the man, and after that no further sound reached Minnie's ear, and the utter silence which had served as a telephone to convey the low-spoken words to Minnie's ear, fell like a leaden weight as she listened in vain for other sounds, and wondering what it all meant. She knew it was Mc- Clellan, for he had both answered to the name and repeated it as his own. But the mystery was, who was the woman? Surely it could not be her proud aunt, in such a place at that hour, and in such confidence with a man so inferior, and yet that voice was so like her's; but no, she thought, it cannot be her, it must be one of the servants, and with this conjecture, she dismissed it so entirely that not until the years lay piled one upon the other between her and that night, did she recall it, but when at last she scaled the wall and looked back over the dreary waste, she wondered at her own forget- A STORY OF REAL LIFE 29 fulness — wondered that the light had not dawned for her long before; "and yet," she said, ''perhaps it is best; perhaps the dawning would not have been so* bright; so fraugiit with the sunlight of God's best blessings, faith and patience." After having dismissed this little mystery she eat thinking of the day's events, and of the lettef she should write in the morning to her mother. While thus deeply absorbed, she was suddenly startled by a sound as of a child's voice seemingly near her, but believing herself to be the only occupant of the room, for a moment a slight superstitous fear came over her, but was soon banished by her better judgment. It was not long, howev^er, until the sound was repeated, this time so distinct that she recognized it as the sobbing of a child. Again that superstitious fear crept over her, but rallying her courage, she hastily turned up the lights, and saw the closely-drawn curtains of the bed part and a tiny little white hand reach out towards her. Hurrying forward and pushing back the half-drawn drapery, she looked upon one of the sweetest little rosy cheeked cherubs she had ever seen, her dark blue eyes beaming with joy through her tears, at the sight of a friendly face. ''You little, darling stranger," said Minnie, "where did you come from, and who, and what are you? Are you a real live child, or are you an angel? If a real live child, come right up here and let me hold you by the fire; and you tell me all about yourself," and she held out her hands to take her. The little one, some- what shyly, began raising herself up and fumbling about as if to find gomething she had lost* At length 30 A DARK PLOT IN NFW YORK SOCIETY; she took out from under the pillow a bow of faded blue ribbon, and holding it up said: " See that; isn't it nice? Tommy gave it to me." "Who is Tommy?" questioned Minnie. " Is he your big brother?" To which she answered readily, all reserve being cast aside now^ that Tommy was the subject of conversation. " No, he isnH my brother, and I guess he isn't nobody's brother, but he is good enough to be lots of folk's brother. Oh, he is so goodP ''Well," said Minnie, come along and let me hold you, and then you can tell me all about yourself and Tommy and everybody you know that is good." "With this the child put out her little dimpled hands and sprang into her arms, clasping her own chubby little arms around her neck, and kissing her impul- sively. Minnie returned the fervent kiss, and seated herself with the child in her arms, saying: " This Aunty is very glad she has found a little girl; she was getting very lonely." "Whose Aunty are you?" said the child, looking up wonderingly into her face. , anxious look, and continued to probe Minnie with questions. ''Are you just one, with your Papa and Mamma, like Miss Nellie that lives in this house, and is going away on the big water w^ith a man that is not her Papa or Mamma, either? She's going to stay a long, long time, and I 'spect she'll get lonesome some dark nights and cry for her Mamma. I should. Wouldn't you?" And without waiting for Minnie to answer or appear- ing to notice that her eyes were riveted upon her as if looking down in to the very soul of the little, innocent prattler, she continued with a little sigh: " I'm just like that, too, and so is Tommy, only I'm just one with Mamma; my Papa is dead. I don't 'member him. I was a tiny baby then. Tommy just has a Grandma, that's all he has. But then he's good. I have no Grandma." Then, after a pause, her little chin and lips began to quiver, and a strange light came into her eye, and the sweet, happy look gave place to one of sadness, and to Minnie she appeared to have suddenly grown from a child to a woman, and she said, with anxiety: " Child, what is it that troubles you?" After a moment's hesitation she replied: " Mamma is going away some day soon. She's going to die, too, and then — and then — " Here her little voice faltered, and putting her dimpled hands over her face, she cried aloud: " Oh, I do wish Jane would come and take me home. I want to see Mamma, and I know she wants to see me. It is so long since morning. Do please call Jane; won't you, lady?" 32 A DARK PLOT IN NEW YORK SOCIETY; Minnie folded the little one close up to her warm, loving heart, and kissed her over and over again, strok- ing her hands through her golden curls, and with her handkerchief she wiped away her tears, saying: " I wouldn't cry any more, Jane will come pretty soon. And I want you tell me who Jane is, and where she lives ; and then you know you haven't told who you are and where you live, and there are a great many things I want you to tell me before Jane comes to take you home. I am afraid we won't get half through before you go." Being thus soothed, she wiped her eyes on the corner of her little blue gingham apron, and taking hold of Minnie's hand, began counting her fingers, and at length she said: Well, Jane — is — Jane; and she is real good, and she lives in the room next to ours, and she stays with Mamma nights since she is worse, and daytimes too, when she doesn't have to work some place." Where do you live?" said Minnie, quite as anxious to divert the child as to be informed of her place of residence. "Me?" said the child. "Why, I live way over there," pointing toward the corner where the old clock was ticking away the hour of ten. " In that old iroken house^ the worstest broken house there is, away down past the nice ones, nearly to the river. Oh, it is so broken, the cold just comes in all over and stays just as., long as it pleases, and we haven't coal enough to build a fire bigger enough to drive it out; but Mammals all r