Cast Adrift

the lower part of the city, over a mile away from her own residence. The meeting between the two women was not over-gracious, bu

o say?" asked the former, almo

you gave that baby

face. Mrs. Bray watched her keenly as, with lips sl

found out my residence," continued Mrs. Bray. "I was in hopes

what

er power can trouble you in m

ou assured me of that. It w

nows where the baby is. She's deeper than I supposed. It

color out of Mrs

oes she

on

paid li

These people have no honor, as I

h does s

go to your house; she gave me that alternative-would have gone yesterday, if good lu

ally groaned in her

ee her yourself?" co

and the lady put up

est," said her

her! You must keep her away from me," replie

ld know just what her demands were. If you do not see her, you will only have my word for it, an

on a dignified, ha

thing to do with it. It's something dreadful, as I told you at the time, to cast a hel

inneford waved her hand impatiently. "The t

uld rather have you deal with her yourself;

k, Mrs. Bray. I wil

ust be your own j

thing to have her a thousand miles away. See if you can't induce her to go to New O

led a faint,

e, it would be the end of her.

cost what it may,"

ur." Mrs. Bray looked at the face of a sm

ford became uneasy, an

shall I s

ars-all the money I have with me. Give her that, a

asked Mr

time you

come to-morrow mornin

e her if possible to leave the city-to g

olded the bank-bills she had received from Mrs. Dinneford

retired, saying

here in t

ll, listening to the retiring steps of her visitor, until she heard the street door shut. Then, with a quick, cat-like step, she crossed to the opposite side of the room, and pushed open a door that led to an adjoining chamber. A woman came forward to meet her. This woman was taller and stouter than M

" exclaimed Mrs. Bray, in a voice of exu

with unrestrained laughter. "The fattest pigeon I've ha

ner-"you know your fate-New Orleans and the yellow fever. You must pack right off. Passage free and a hund

steamer sail?" and Pinky almost screame

Pinky. The people down stairs are go

!" and she shook with

ew serious, and put their h

t's her name, and where does

let the cat out of the bag. Sally Long took the baby away, and she died two months ago; so I'm the only one now in the secret. All I want of you is to keep track of the

and growled a little, just showi

you thirty. I heard her say so. And she

remonstrated Mrs. Bray. "It w

st night, and that's good luck, you know. Tom Oaks made a splendid hit last Saturday-drew twenty dollars-and Sue

addon's?" asked Mrs. Bray, with co

it, and I dreamed of a cow last night. She was giving such a splendid pail of milk, full to

Bray's voice, as if the reference had sent her th

fter that; and when Pinky spoke, which she

w. What's done's done, and can't be helped. Water doesn't run up hill again after it's once run down. I've got going, and can'

Swett another bank-bill. "I'm going to try my luck. Put half a dollar on ten different rows, and we'll go sha

her pocket and drew out a

s a sign of sorrow-11, 20, 40, 48. To be surrounded by many sheep denotes good luck-2, 11, 55.' That's your r

ard her friend she

ghtening face. "Let's see what it says about a

arasol shows that her sweetheart is fa

dream about a

d as a dream. 5, 51, 56 is the row.

ut these numbers the clock

, turning to the clock;

put down these

ten." She arose, as she spoke, and going to

ng I saw;" and she came back fingering the le

the numbers on h

gnifies you will have trouble through life-7, 9, 63. That's true as preaching; I

iv

inky drew a soiled pack from her pocket, shu

erred to the dream-book. "

re shuffled

clubs-6,

huffled. This time the kn

," said Pinky, rea

of clubs, and the policy

rows will be full;" and

12, 60;" and the te

f figures. "One of 'em can't help coming out right, and that would be fifty dollars-twenty-five for me and twenty-five for

McFaddon, I'm afraid

ng to do with it

hasn

N

has,

bac

t's

t a backer-a man that puts up the money. Sam only sell

backer, as

ves in the Park and wears a two thousand dollar diamond pin; he let that out.

d do it right off, Pinky, or the m

aper containing the lucky rows. "Never you fear. I'll b

r the baby to-night, and see that it doesn't

s on its poor little body," returned Pinky. "Can't

petticoat last wee

u d

a Jew shop, and had

a nice w

es

a cold cellar on a little heap of straw. The woman had given it something, I guess, by the way it slept. The pettic

taking care of the baby at night

e got ten dollars," returned Pinky.

r women, and they board it out. I have no right to interfe

use," said Pinky; "it would be

eplied Mrs. Bray; "I might lose tra

gged with long; it's too hard on the little things. For you know how it is, Fan; they must keep 'em half starved and as sick as the

t?" asked Mrs. Bray. "I do

know it if she saw

e never set

t. You can steal one from a drunken mother any night in th

And now, Pinky that you have put this thing into my head, I g

rig

o do with it? I ca

hat's easily managed, if yo

for

body. So you see how it is, Fan. Now, if you'll take a fool's advice, you'll let 'it go to the almshouse, or let it alone to die

me one who wouldn't abuse it? She might beg with it herself, or h

seen 'em brought in at night more dead than alive, and tossed on a dirty rag-heap to die before morning. I'm always glad when they're out

boarded for outrigh

ot, while you're about it, bleed the old lady, its grandm

, Fan; anyhow, we'll make a start on i

when shal

might die of cold any nigh

full of them, and so is Briar street and Di

w. At present I want to settle about this

es

it from the woma

She's drunk every night," ans

to-morrow?" s

ye

forget about

or I'm a fool. Day-day!" Pinky wave