The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-11-21

trough unconscious of the elaborate wink
with which Nate, restored somewhat to
good humor by the unexpected drink,
favored the elderly passenger. "He's
hell y said Nate, admiringly.
The lieutenant found the object of his
solicitude as he had left her, enduring the
discomfort of her condition with silent pa
tience.
"You are very good" she said more
gently, but in the same even tone of a su-
perior. Evidently this woman was accus-
toned to being waited on.
Il suppose that condensed milk will do
for the baby" said the lieutenant, "have
you anything to put it in?"
Yes, certainly, the baby had a bottle.
But, alas search for the bottle revealed
the fact that it must have been iolted out
of the stage while the mother was uncon-
scious.
"What shall | do y she exclaimed, her
fortitudc suddenly forsaking her. "He
won't drink out of a cup, and l am afraid
he is hungry now" Evidently tears were
gathering behind the veil, tears that she
never would have shed for herself.
"Oh, can fix that easy enough, said
the stage-driving lieutenant consolingly.
Quickly entering the house once more,
for time was getting precious and the beans
were getting cold, he seized an empty beer
bottle, washed it out, filled it with hot
mixture of condensed milk, drove the cork
in tight, pared the cork down to a conve-
nient size and pierced it with a saddler's
awl; then tearing piece of linen from his
handkerchief, he padded the cork and tied
it securely.
"There," he said to the disconsolate
mother, II think that will work. once
raised litter of puppies on no better one. "
The lady, who had smiled rather hope
lessly at this cumbrous device, anxiously
watched the infants attempt to manage it.
The lieutenant, Notwithstanding that the
beans were getting cold, looked on with
almost as much interest An expression
of contentmeut gradually stole over the
baby's face. Evidently the bottle met with
its entire approval. Then the mother gave
the child quick, delighted hug, and with
little, low laugh of relief, turned her
yelled face to the driver and said, but this
time her voice trembled "You are so
kind How can thank you ?"
But he only replied with an amused
smile, and instinctively, though carelessly,
lifting his hat, he went back to his supper
of cold pork and beans, while the eyes
behind the veil followed him with look
of increasing surprise and curiosity.
The stage, when it left City of Rocks,
was twenty minutes late. But the jack
rabbits, which laid back their ears and
scudded at its approach, found it no mean
rival that afternoon
"I'll bet ten dollars he makes up afore
he gifts to Stoney Creek, and not turn a
hair !" said the station-keeper to himself.
Then, after further contemplation of the
fast, receding cloud of dust, he added in a
more reckless tone, "I'll bet ten dollars he
makes it up afore he gifts to Dick Days
ranch, and not turn hair p' As no one
accepted either of these generous PROPOSE
tions he shook his head and remarked con-
fidently, 'There amt many kin copper
the lieutenant now, if you year me ~ and,
disappearing in the gloom of the interior
of the house, City of Rocks was left once
more to the hot silence of its fantastic
stones.