And the size--she certainly would buy than three-year size, if she were buying for Lovin Child.

And the little "Buddy tucker" suit--that, too, sounded like Lovin Child.

He must--Bud certainly must have him up there with him! Then Lovin Child was not drowned at all, but alive and needing dig-in-the-muds.
"Bud's got him! Oh, Bud has got him, I know he's got him!" she whispered over and over to herself in an ecstasy of hope.

"My little Lovin Man! He's up there right now with his Daddy Bud--" A vague anger stirred faintly, flared, died almost, flared again and burned steadily within her.

Bud had her Lovin Child! How did he come to have him, then, unless he stole him?
Stole him away, and let her suffer all this while, believing her baby was dead in the river! "You devil!" she muttered, gritting her teeth when that thought formed clearly in her mind.