and had gotten the advantage of her pursuers, it took some time to find
her, but at last she was returned to the infirmary and was given orders by
the authorities not to repeat the offense of deserting her baby.

As the feeble-minded people at the almshouse sometimes caused trouble by
running off, large balls of iron had been provided to be chained to the
feet of such persons. Thus their progress would be hindered and their
escape be less probable. Still they could take a part in the work that had
been assigned them about the place. It was thought best to use this method
of securing Mrs. Fischer. When the chains were fastened about her ankles,
one of the authorities who had helped in capturing her remarked, "I guess
now you'll not raise your feet for a while as nimbly as you have been doing
of late."

That evening Mr. Engler said to his wife: "It's the strangest case I ever
heard tell of. Surely that woman has made the future of her infant son dark
and uncertain. It doesn't seem possible that any mother could treat her
child in such a shameful manner. I'm sure if that woman could get loose
this minute she'd run away again, and we'll have to watch her closely while
she's here."

"Did you see the baby's large brown eyes?" Mrs. Engler asked, as her
husband ceased speaking. "He's certainly a nice child, and it's a shame to
see him grow up among all these paupers; but if his mother doesn't care, I
don't know who will."

"Well, I don't know that it's any of our business, either, except to see
that she takes care of him while she's here, and after that I guess we can
manage some way as we always have," Mr. Engler replied. "You've got too
much to do to take any of her responsibilities on your shoulders, and you