Sunshine & Shadows written by Evangeline Hoover (Cook) Wright (d. 1960 at 92 yrs 8mo 18 days.) Chapter Two They had a hard time to get me in the coach. I ws afraid of the big, puffing engine which looked like a mammoth beast to me. I must have had a foreboding of more trouble and would not be safe for me to get in the coach. After we got in the coach I clung onto my mother for dear life. We hear the toot-toot at every road crossing. The bell begins to ding-dong, ding-dong. Now they are cutting steam. The train is slowing down. Then we hear the too---- clear the track, the train is coming in, the conductor booms, through calling, "Chicago-Chicago--change cars for other parts." We sat in the far back seat--every one ahead had their grips, leaving the coach. A dirty, ill-dressed woman with turban on her head, came in the coach, letting on like she was looking for someone. Father Cook raised to his feet. She saw Lina, ran up to him grabbing me by my feet, pulling, jerking and saying, "Me have baby, me trade beads for baby." Father, fighting, striking her and saying, "get out, you beast. You can't have our child, get out." She kicked him, swore at him and said, "Me get baby." Mother was holding on also. The conductor slipped up behind her, grabbed her under arms and slammed her down the steps of the coach saying, "I'll teach you how to steal people's children." The gypsy staggered to her feet, shook her fist at the conductor saying, "I'll get the baby yet. The Conductor took me in his arms saying, "Come people, follow me." He carried me in the depot, found a safe place, set us by a window where we could watch ships and men hoisting coal up out of the ground. Then he said to father, "Mr. Cook, let us see your ticket?" Looking at it he said, "Four hour wait and you stay right here, because they steal men here in this town as well as children." Then he called the depot police saying, "Bob, keep a close watch on this child. That Gypsy was trying to get her even before she came out of the coach, so I am telling you watch, and get the gypsy if you can." All right, I'll do your biding if I can. I see you have four hours wait so be careful what you do." The four hours wait began to drag on father's nervous system. He raised to his feet saying, "I am going out on the platform to get some fresh air. I am so tired." Mother said, "Now listen, Jacob, thee do as the police told thee. Remember no farther than the platform. Thee is not very strong yet." Did Adam listen to Eve? Yes, but from that time on the wives plead, cry, pray, but no, they will not listen. We see the Gypsy's husband had been informed of her work in the passenger car and he was watching to get father away in order to get the baby girl. Father Cook stepped out on the platform. A man standing at the farther end saw his prey. Father stood looking around, then started walking back and forth for exercise when Mr. man greets him. "Good day, sir. Live in Town?" Jacob answered, "Oh now, we just came in on the noon train." (The man, "Oh I have got him) -- "Come far?" Father: "Oh from Iowa." "Staying in Chicago?" "No, we're moving to Indiana. "We're you ever in Chicago before?" "Yes, we passed through some eight years ago in a covered wagon, just a small town then--not more than a hundred houses. It was then called little Chicago." The man said, "What is your trade? "I am a carpenter, sir." "Your name?" "My name is Cook, said father. "I have been looking at those large buildings." "Oh, you should see the interior of this one just a step or two from here. He started and father followed and is gone for some time. Mother remarks to her oldest boy, Charley, "Father has been outside more than a hour. I wonder why he doesn't return? She was not aware there was a woman watching every move she made. Now Mother begins inquiring about her husband--has anyone seen a tall man standing on the platform or sitting out there. None had seen a man of her description. The woman, waiting for Mother's highest emotions and excitement so she could pounce on her prize she coveted so much. It came. Mother began rushing here and there, looking at all men that came in. Realizing father had all of the money they possessed she became frantic. The Gypsy seeing her chance to get the child goes to mother saying, "Me take baby. Mother go hunt Father." Through her hysteria she let her baby girl slip from her arm of safety into the arms of the gypsy's arms. She saw the woman that took her child start running. Like a flash it came to her, what she had done. She began to cry. "The gypsy, gypsy has stolen my baby." She was overcome with grief and swooned away. The depot police had also been watching the woman. As soon as he heard the cry, "The gypsy, the gypsy" a posse of men started after her, running. She was a small woman. The child proved to be too heavy for her. She saw the police were bearing down on her and would get her if she did not set the baby down. She put her down on the street and ran behind houses getting away from the police. He returned with the child in his arms to find men and women doing all they could to restore Mother. At the same time another policeman had rescued Father and returned him just in time for their train. The second policeman had rescued Father from the Gypsy's husband. He was trying to force Father in a saloon. The policeman seeing the tussle interfered and rescued Father, taking him back to his family, just as his waning wife came to. On seeing him she exclaimed, "Oh, Jacob, where has thee been? Jacob answered, "I can't tell." Mother noticed the police had her baby in his arms. She, through her joy, sprang up embracing child and policeman, exclaiming, "Oh, how will I ever be able to pay thee for rescuing my baby? Thou has taken better care of us than my husband." The policeman answered, "Now, Mrs. Cook, this is our place to put people aright that come in the city and get roughed. This is our duty and we are glad to be of service to all that need our help. I shall keep this little girl right here in my arms until I get her safe in your arms after you get on your train." Then I'll know she is safe and you better watch me for I think she belongs to me, Mother Cook." Oh, no, no, we could never give her up." The policeman helped them on the train and bade them goodby and a happy journey home. Then he descended the steps from the car, his back outward. He moved away a few steps, then stopped saying, "I believe that sly cat slipped up past me. I"ll see." He returned to find her at the Cooks again pulling, making quite a commotion in the coach with an intent of having the child if possible. The policeman slipped up behind her, grabbed her hands and placed hand cuffs on her wrists. She turned kicking and fighting. The policeman hooked his cane hook around her neck, starting down the aisle of the coach, saying, "Come on people, I'm taking this cow to the stock pen and close the doors behind her. I will say she had done her last kidnapping she will ever do. Good-bye and God's blessings on you." :) Anita ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anita (nee: Merlo) Gauld Anita_Gauld@Hotmail.Com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Have over 20,000 individuals in my database. Willing to do quick look-ups. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tracing surnames: Bellisario..Berardo..Blake..Bonner Carpenter..Chromie..Cucco..Cunningham..Dey..Eovaldi..Gauld Gianella..Gnoli..Loomis..Marek..Marlow..Merlo..Mitrovich.. 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