Where ar'
they?" he demanded. Then getting no response from the agitated
covers, he glanced wildly about the room. "Glory be to God!" he
exclaimed as his eyes fell on the crib; but he stopped short in
astonishment, when upon peering into it, he found not one, or
two, but three "barren."
"They're child stalers, that's what they are," he declared to
Maggie, as he snatched Bridget and Norah to his no doubt
comforting breast. "Me little Biddy," he crooned over his much
coveted possession. "Me little Norah," he added fondly, looking
down at his second. The thought of his narrow escape from losing
these irreplaceable treasures rekindled his wrath. Again he
strode toward the bed and looked down at the now semi-quiet
comforter.
"The black heart of ye, mum," he roared, then ordering Maggie to
give back "every penny of that shameless creetur's money" he
turned toward the door.
So intense had been O'Flarety's excitement and so engrossed was
he in his denunciation that he had failed to see the wild-eyed
Italian woman rushing toward him from the opposite door.
"You, you!" cried the frenzied woman and, to O'Flarety's
astonishment, she laid two strong hands upon his arm and drew him
round until he faced her. "Where are you going with my baby?"
she asked, then peering into the face of the infant nearest to
her, she uttered a disappointed moan.
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