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"Corew stern

"She rabbed--You know I--" Branch's face became suddenly stricken "Look out!" he shouted, hoarsely "She's going to cry, or son of a fire she had suffered Her hand stole out of her mouth, her fists closed, her face puckered ominously Lopez stooped, wrapped her in a sheet, then took her aardly in his arlance upon the kidnapper, but he had no chance to speak before the stor Men were shouting and gesticulating to their coreat chattering and crowding and no little s every desperate device to soothe the infant, but without success At last he strode up to Leslie and extended his burden

"Here," he said, harshly, "she's yours I surrender her"

Leslie drew back "No, you don't! I wouldn't touch her for a thousand dollars!" he cried

But Lopez was firm He spoke in a tone of coe, to steal a baby! What are we going to do with her? We can't send her back--the town is crazy I've no doubt I shall hear fro protests, in spite of his feeble resistance, Lopez pressed the noisy stranger into his arms, then turned to his men and directed them to be off

Branch reerly, not daring to put it down, dreading to keep it; his eyes were rolling, he began to perspire freely Stretching a ti hand toward Lopez, he inquired, huskily, "What shall I do with her?"

"God knows I don't," snapped the officer "I shall have to think, but meanwhile I hold you responsible for her Co"

Leslie sed hard; his face became overspread with a sicklier pallor "What'll I do--when she gets HUNGRY?"

Lopez could not restrain a sht about that, coues from here I'll send a man to borrow it from the owner and drive it to our caain--"perhaps you would prefer to take this child back where you found it?"

"No--I--Oh, they'd tear me limb from limb!"

"Exactly"

Branch turned his head from side to side in desperation He wet his lips "It's the youngest one I ever had anything to do with Maybe it isn't used to cow's milk," he ventured