identify
the child if found

CHAPTER XXVII. No trace of Andy--Account of Andy's abduction--Andy's
prison--An outlook from prison--A loose nail--The escape--The sprained
ankle--The accident

CHAPTER XXVIII. Edith's visit to the children's hospital--"Oh, my baby!
thank God! my baby!"--The identification

CHAPTER XXIX. Meeting of Mr. Dinneford and George Granger--"We want you
to help us find your child"--"Edith's heart is calling out for you"--The
meeting--The marriage benediction

CAST ADRIFT.

CHAPTER I.

_A BABY_ had come, but he was not welcome. Could anything be sadder?

The young mother lay with her white face to the wall, still as death. A
woman opened the chamber door noiselessly and came in, the faint rustle
of her garments disturbing the quiet air.

A quick, eager turning of the head, a look half anxious, half fearful,
and then the almost breathless question,

"Where is my baby?"

"Never mind about the baby," was answered, almost coldly; "he's well
enough. I'm more concerned about you."

"Have you sent word to George?"

"George can't see you. I've said that before."

"Oh, mother! I must see my husband."

"Husband!" The tone of bitter contempt with which the word was uttered
struck the daughter like a blow. She had partly risen in her excitement,
but now fell back with a low moan, shutting her eyes and turning her
face away. Even as she did so, a young man stepped back from the door of
the elegant house in which she lay with a baffled, disappointed air. He
looked pale and wretched.

"Edith!" Two hours afterward the doctor stood over the young mother,
and called her name. She did not move nor reply. He laid his hand on her
cheek, and almost started, then bent down and looked at her intently for
a moment or two. She had fever. A serious expression came into his face,
and there was cause.

The sweet rest and heavenly joy of maternity had been denied to his
young patient. The new-born babe had not been suffered to lie even for
one blissful moment on her bosom. Hard-hearted family pride and cruel
worldliness had robbed her of the delight with which God ever seeks to
dower young motherhood, and now the overtaxed body and brain had given
way.

For many weeks the frail young creature struggled with
delirium--struggled and overcame.

"Where is my baby?"

The first thought of returning consciousness was of her baby.

A woman who sat in a distant part of the chamber started up and