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 play) Patty would be most grateful. The radiant smile which terminated this speech failed to produce any softening expression in response; the listener merely asked for the name of the little boy and some description of the father whereby he might be identified.

“Well, we don’t know his name, you see—only Bateese. He was put on the train by some man and we—well, we just happened to get him.”

“I suppose he was given in charge of the conductor. Why didn’t you leave him with him?” Evidently the woman was not favourably impressed.

“The conductor left the train, you see, and the other men knew nothing about him.”

“Oh!” said the matron and looked intently into space.

“He was sent from a Home of some kind, poor baby,” added Patty in pathetic accents. Rh