The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-07
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NUMBER THREE.
The Baby and the Fan.

"The days of old, the days of gold" are
sometimes recalled even yet in San Fran
cisco.
One afternoon this week the store OF
fashionable jeweler OIL Market street was
crowded with prospective customers.
Diamonds flashed on all sides, rubies
blushed attractiyely, and the fateful opal
spread its shifting iridescent net for adj
miring buyers.
The counters fairly blazed with costly
treasures and the statesmen were doing
rushing business
Among the customers was rough-lU0klng
man OF giant stature, who with his compan-
ion, little girl Of some six summers,
seemed quantity out Of place among the gay
butterflies OF society thronging the store
He stood with half-wearied, half
amused look on his bearded face. waiting
his turn.
incidentally. he watched spoiled child
of fortune languidly turn over lot OF fans
of rarely executed ilagree gold work.
She had almost fixed upon one exquisite
specimen when the little girl, who had been
standing by The tall mans side, darted for
ward and impulsiyely grasped 1t from her
hand.
The lady gave a little shrek and instantly
there was an uproar.
The clerks and statesmen signaed TO the
detectives always on hand TO prevent theft.
and two keen-eyed individuals in plain
clothes at once took Up position OF sentry
at the doors.
But the girl made no attempt to run away.
She only took the fan to her tall COM
panion. the rough-loOking stranger, and
drumming the costly affair carelessly on the
counter said:
"Baby wants this. papaT'
For heavens sake, sirl" interposed an
excited counter-clerk, make her give back
that fan. 1t Is very expensive and If she
breaks II, drumming like that. we will hold
you responsible"
The tall man was bending down over the
little girl ana did not seem to hear.
Does baby want that?" be was asking.
''Wbat does baby want with it, anyway"
Baby wants it to play with, up home"
replied the child, drawing nearer to him and
grasping her prize more tightly as she be-
came conscious Of the surrounding cyclone.
Now, sir. give up that fan at once. or
there will be trouble" threatened CLERK.
his voice trembling with suspense, rs he
saw baby slyly bending the fragile sticks.
But the big man was still whispering.
"Why, baby" he was saying, you have
Marty and Dot and lots of things up 10
hum-what dye want with that thng?"
BABY wants It," was the only response.
as she going to give that fan up, or AIN /
to have it taken from her and have both of
you arrested ?" stammered the salesman in
an agony of terror for the fate of the fan.
The tall man heard him at last.
How much is the fan?" he asked alb
ruptly. SO abruptly that the counter jumper
qaailed.
Fifty dollars" he managed to gasp.
Give me bali dozen of en-" was the
response, accompanied by the appearance
Of roll of greenbacks.
There amt no call for any one getting
fresh. or I'll buy out your hull darDCd
store" he continued. Here. baby, come
and choose some things FOR Marty and the
others and then we'll be getting hum.
Times amt what they was, perhaps"
with sweeping. comprehensive challenge
In the tone. "but pay-ore is not quite
petered out, and | reckon we kin afford to
buy baby her New Years toys"
Tie salesman bowed down humbly TO the
new luminary ana waited upon the pair
with aaerity. l.. ID. ADAM.