Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-12-08

gone away in the truckmanS team some
minutes before, taking the baby, the
trunks, and the parcels with them. The
fact was that the truckman who was
originally engaged arrived just as Sarah
was well on her way to the studio, so
that Aunt Patty gave up the idea of
employing another.
Late in the afternoon a young mar
ried couple of the name OF Raymond,
came to look over the house with a
view to renting it. After exploring the
greater part of the cottage. they took i
look into the bathroom; the womanly
curiosity of the lady was moved to take
Il closer view of some mats and pieces
of carpeting that were in one corner,
when suddenly she startled her husband
by a succession of Shriu screams which
soon changed into peals of nervous
laughter.
My dear, what is it?'' inquired her
husband.
What is it? Why, Il baby, and its
ali-i-iyer'
1t was Uncle Jacks baby, of course
When Aunt Patty decided to go before
Sarah returned, the child was quietly
sleeping; so she deposited 1t, all ready
for the journey, on soft rug on the
floor in the sitting-roOm. Then she
went softly out and carefully locked the
door, thinking that when Sarah returned
she would, OF course, take the baby TO
Joe North's.
Unfortunately, the baby woke up al
most as soon as her back was turned,
and, although considerably impeded by
his clothing, began a continual creeping.
BY the time Sarah returned he was out
of sight and hearing, and when, after a
hasty glance about, she left for Joe
North's the baby kept on until he had
explored every room on that fiat, and
as Sarah had left the sitting-room door
open, crept into the hall, mercifulIy
escaped the stairs, and entering the
bathroom, Wearied with locOmotion ut
such a disadvantage, curled down to
sleep in the corner, where Mrs. Ray
mOnd afterWard found him.
Mr.. Raymond, though somewhat
shaken by the screams OF his wife, was
one of those men who rarely lose the
| opportunity for Il joke, and now he only
muttered that if it was so affecting 10
find child, it was no wonder that when
the loss Of one occurred
oh, you horrid man! interrupted his
( wife. Let us look after this poor
| baby. Wen take it home Wit US, and
then we can consider what is to be
done"
Home, for the RaymondS, had been
! for a few weeks past Il modest fiat IL
an apartment hotel near by. Thither
the infant was taken. What they had
seen of the cottage pleased them SO well
| that, after a short consultation, they con-
! Guided to return and learn all about the
house before any information concern
! ing the baby, either with the police or
the newspapers. Mr.. Raymond slyly
suggested that it would be Il pruent
! idea to take u nerve tonic before straG-
| ing, for fear Il child should be discover
| ed ia the pantry, OF unearthed i'll the
cellar.
| A long delay occurred at the packet
in getting everything arranged, as the
captain had gone on shore; it was near
| L
Jack arrived at Joe North's.
rs the baby asleep, Sairy?' were the
| first words Aunt Patty uttered.
| The baby!' gasped Sarah. why,
| Aunt Patty, | thought-What did you do
with him?''
What did l do with him? l locked
him up in the sitting-room, and l s'posed
you would have sense enough to take
him with you when you got back"
But the baby wasn't anywhere to be
seen, and Mrs. Wyman, across the
street, said you had him in your arms
when you drove off, sobbed the now
thoroughly frightened Sarah.
Aunt Patty was startled, too, but she
paused long enough to give vent to her
temper by denouncing the neighbOr.
Mrs. Wyman, as i stupid old near-sght-
ed ''jilt'' that could't tell the difference
between Il baby and a big parcel wrap
ped up i'll brown paper. Sarah at
| once owned to leaving the Sitting-rOOm
door open, SO Aunt Patty felt sure as
could be that the baby had fallen down
stairs, and us the house was only few
blocks away, not many minutes were
spent i'll getting back TO it and admit
| ting themselves with the latch-key. But
there, of course, they found no baby,
from cellar to attic, and from hall to
! bedroom. All sorts of despairing
| theories were advanced as to his where
| aboutS, and also as to the best means
Of finding him, when, as they were al
| in the hall. the front door opened and
Mr.. and Mrs. Raymond entered to COM
plete their inspection OF the cottage.
| OF course, mutual introductions and
/ explanations and the recovery Of the
child soon followed. Aunt Patty, how
never forgaye Nh. and Mrs. Raymond
for contemplating even look through
the house before taking steps to adver-
tise the baby, totally unmindful of the
| fact that the course had resulted in the
speedieSt possible righting of matters.
| Probably her quick ears caught few
words of Mr.. Raymond's remarks to
| his wife, concerning the propriety of
providing poodle collar and chain for
| infants with a propensity to wander.
Certainly it is that Aunt Patty Jack
ever afterWard spoke Of that terrible
Raymond with as much severity as
if he had with malicious intent, abduct-
I ed the baby.
THE MIND READER.
| What the sensitive" Told the Audience