ent melted away, a
single figure remained lurking in a corner of the yard and out of sight
in its dark shadow. It was that of a man. The moment he was alone with
the unconscious woman he glided toward her with the alert movements of
an animal, and with a quickness that made his work seem instant, rifled
her pockets. His gains were ten cents and the policy-slip she had just
received at Sam McFaddon's. He next examined her shoes, but they were of
no value, lifted her dirty dress and felt its texture for a moment, then
dropped it with a motion of disgust and a growl of disappointment.

As he came out from the yard with his poor booty, the light from a
street-lamp fell on as miserable a looking wretch as ever hid himself
from the eyes of day--dirty, ragged, bloated, forlorn, with scarcely a
trace of manhood in his swollen and disfigured face. His steps, quick
from excitement a few moments before, were now shambling and made
with difficulty. He had not far to walk for what he was seeking. The
ministers to his appetite were all about him, a dozen in every block of
that terrible district that seemed as if forsaken by God and man. Into
the first that came in his way he went with nervous haste, for he had
not tasted of the fiery stimulant he was craving with a fierce and
unrelenting thirst for many hours. He did not leave the bar until he had
drank as much of the burning poison its keeper dispensed as his booty
would purchase. In less than half an hour he was thrown dead drunk into
the street and then carried by policemen to the old wagon-yard, to take
his night's unconscious rest on the ground in company with Mother Hewitt
and a score besides of drunken wretches who were pitilessly turned out
from the various dram-shops after their money was spent, and who
were not considered by the police worth the trouble of taking to the
station-house.

When Mother Hewitt crept back into her cellar at daylight, the baby was
gone.

CHAPTER XI.

_FOR_ more than a week after Edith's call on Dr. Radcliffe she seemed to
take but little interest in anything, and remained alone in her room
for a greater part of the time, except when her father was in the house.
Since her questions about her baby a slight reserve had risen up between
them. During this time she went out at least once every day, and when
questioned by her mother as to where she had been, evaded any direct
answer. If questioned more closely, she would show a rising spirit