“‘Don’t move,’ I said, in a low voice, ‘there are two police officers in plain clothes behind you.’ Now, you know, Judge, we were all scattered, we watchers, even though Bethany had been stolen. Harry Busby was still on duty, Cracker was watching, the second newspaper reporter was keeping his eyes open, and Jennie and Dallas were by no means asleep, though, of course, they were busy with their respective duties—Jennie here in the house and Dallas at school. But we weren’t sure of the plan of the miscreants, Barry warned us. He said, ‘Don’t let them fool you by dragging a red herring across your track.’ We did not know the extent of their designs. Bethany’s capture might have been only the preliminary to something else. However, as it turns out, it was the beginning and end, and quite enough it is, I think.”
“What about the women?” asked the Judge.
“O, the train thundered in and thundered out. We wanted to see if they would have any confederates on board. No one got off to meet them, and then we turned. Such a quiet little group—the two women, Bethany, two policemen, and I. We walked down the platform together. The women were clever enough not to make a fuss. When we got to the place where the carriages stand there was Mr. McIntyre, the detective, holding open a carriage door. The two women got in, and he followed them. I could not leave them that way. I rushed impulsively up to the door. I said, ‘O, tell me you are sorry for this.’ It seemed to me that even then I could have forgiven them for their crime if there had been the least sign of contrition.”
“Did they say anything to you, Berty?” asked her husband, eagerly.
“One of them sneered, the other made a dreadful remark in which she invoked vengeance on me for interfering with their scheme. It was no time to reason with them. They were too sore over their defeat, but I shall take pains to see them to-morrow.”
“If the affair was managed so quietly, how is it that it got over the city so quickly?” inquired the Judge.
Berty laughed gleefully. “O, those newspaper men! They had done such yeoman’s service that we were obliged to let them have their own way at the last. You see, both men who helped us were on the staff of the News. It was too good a chance to triumph over their rivals. So they had everything ready. Bulletin boards were out, and extras were being prepared, almost before the women got to the prison or I reached my home with Bethany. I took her there to change her clothes, but found when we got to the door that I had forgotten to get the suit case from the wicked women, so we wheeled about and came here. By that time the news had gone by word of mouth just like wildfire. I don’t know when I have seen the city so excited, unless it was when we had our last presidential election. I am proud of the way my fellow citizens are standing by the rights of children.”
She stopped, fanned herself with a newspaper, and they all gazed silently at her.
They were waiting for the Judge to speak. “My dear young lady,” he said, in a moved voice, “you are reaping what you have sowed. Nearly five years ago you began your cry for the children. Day after day you have unweariedly gone on with your good work. This demonstration to-day was more for you than for me.”
“Dear Judge,” she said, extending a hand and speaking with exquisite gentleness, “can we not say that youth and advancing age are united in this? Together they stand, divided they fall.”