The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-04-16
@naerspt1 gnteltigeaeer,
Joe and the Baby.

Joe and the Baby.
Joe Shields, of Cincinnati, who bobs
up in Salt Lake every oncein while,
had an adventure in st. Joseph, Mo-,
few weeks ago, says the boys. Joe was
stopping in room 50, Pacific House. In
room So was young couple and baby.
Now it so happened that Joe was ill and
retired to bed about Sp. m. he had
scarcely lain down, and was just begin
ming to doze off when in came woman
all dressed as if to 60 out. She carried a
baby which was vigorously nursing
bottle, and as she entered the room she
walked hastily over to the bed, laid the
infant down and remarked, "Now,
George, you take good care of Freddie,
and as soon as be goes to sleep cover him
up. think he will sleep all right till |
get back from the theatre; by, by, dear;
Mrs. Cochran is waiting for me" and
with these words she stopped down and
gave Joe kiss, and was gone before he
could open his mouth to express his
astonishment.
Joe got up and turned up the gas and
looked at the infant. It was really q
pretty lad and he seemed to enjoy himself
as though he vas in his papa's custody.
But Joseph didn't relish the idea of hav-
ing to play the part of nurse for about
three hours, and remembering that he
had seen the child with the couple next
door, determined to restore the youngster
to its rightful owner. So he put on his
clothing and, going to the next room,
knocked. To his surprise, no answer
came. He opened the door gently; the
the room was empty. Here was pretty
mess. But very likely the sire "f the
sleeping infant WAS down stairs, 80 be
would HE himself down and request him
to come UP and remove his progeny. He
went down and looked all through the
billiard room, the reading room and the
wet goods annex, but nothing could he
find of the parent. A happy thought
struck him. He would go up stairs, put
the infant in the other room and go 10
sleep. So, after smoking cigar, be
prepared to put his plan into execution.
He picked up the sleeping infant and
carried it to the next room. The door
was locked. The husband and father
had been up while Joe was down stairs,
and, presuming that his wife had taken
the child with her, had locked the door
and gone out for stroll.
Here was pretty kettle of fish. Joe
didn't want to call a maid, because it
might be embarrassing to explain where
he got the infant. He was certain that
he couldn't find the papa, for he had gone
out. So he rang the bell, ordered two
cocktails, took them without allowing the
boy to come inside, lit cigar aud laid
down beside the baby to wait until the
woman should come home. In few
moments Joe was asleep.
About 11.3O that night the guests of
the hotel were aroused by shri~k, fol-
lowed by cries of "My baby! oh. my
baby p All the guests rushed out in the
hallway-no, not all; all but Joe. The
cries awoke him, also the infant, who
squalled Justify. Hastily picking him
up, Joe rushed into the corridor. Here
is your child, madam" he remarked in
his bland style. found the youngster
in my bed and concluded he had been
put there by mistake. have been sit
ting up with him ever since. He was
asleep until your cry awoke him. Nice
little baby that, too. I like babies-oh,
no trouble, / assure you. Am more than
repaid for my trouble by the little fel.
lows companionship."
The lady thanked him in confused
sort Of fashion, the guests retired, and Joe
well, Joe ordered two more cocktails
and went to sleep.
The mother sought Joe the next morn
ing and made him promise never to tell
any one how he got possession of the
child. And this is the way he kept the
promise.