The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-12-31
THE FOUNDING.

annoying error IN posting Dy an nnu6T
bookkeeper had detained him at the of
flee. He walked rather more rapidly
than usual. for he knew that the major,
Simpson and Granger were waiting for
him to make the fourth hand i'm the
game of whist which always preceded
dinner. Collins was not home, for he
had gone to Milwaukee and would not
return until the next morning, and Bar
low knew that the major was Impatient
~ tapping the table with his fingers and
watching the door.
For seven years the five men had lived
together, and the whist game before
dinner was one of the household habits
which had fastened itself upon the lit
tie community as a vital element Of its
placid existence. The men were all past
middle age, and any depression from
the routine Jared the entire domestic
machinery for the time. Dinner wa al
ways served at z o'clock, and Barlow
felt more than guilty, for il was not
only nearly 9 o'clock. but the afternoon
was the Saturday half holiday, and ne
should lave been home several hours
earlier.
He increased his pace when he turned
into the street which for three blocks
was the bottom of an architectural
canyon, its sides formed OF solid rows
OF houses each exactly like the other. As
hs approached the center house Of the
middle block he felt for his latchkey
and drew liz from his pocket when he
tmxneds 20 ascend the stepaI The key
6ropped from his hand, and he fell back
aspaoes Tor cooing at him from the cor
nexgoS the little porch . baby stretched
itw0habby arms toward him and smiled
when tho hey jingled en- the stons stsps
RaElow's Arst thought was thst he
had tazkemthswrong steps, and he stead
lily staxed nt the number painted On the
transozn. The number was right, andhe
rapidly checked 1T on with the familiar
window curtains and the doorlmat. The
majors burly form came into view
through the window, and then Barlow
concentrated his attention on the baby.
It cooed gently and made an effort to
crawl down the Steps.
"Hold on; youth hurt yourself, =
cried Barlow as the baby leaned peril
ously over the edge Of the doorstep. The
little one looked up and smiled again,
and then for the first time in his mem
DRY Barlow held a baby in his arms.
For several minutes he stood looking
up and down the street, bnt no one
came to help him. He pressed the baby
TO him as he stopped for his key, and
opening the door walked into the sitting
room with the baby under his arm as
though it were d laundry bundle.
Hello, you're here at last, = said the
major, ~loosening the belt OF his dress
ing gown and reaching for . deck of
cards. What kept Bless my soul,
what have ron got there?''
The baby kicked its heels and struck
ont with its arms as though swimming,
for Barlow b hand was under it's stomach
as he held it against his hip. Simpson
dropped the evening paper and stared at
the baby with his mouth open. Granger
forgot the blazing match which no was
holding over his pipe bowl. and 1t burn
cd to his fingers as he gazed blankly ut
Barlow and the kicking infant.
The oppressive silence was broken by
o sudden org from the baby, and the
major caught IL BY one leg just In time
TO save it from striking the floor for
Barlow dropped il when the cry came.
For second the major held the baby
by its leg, while q series Of muffied ex-
plosicns came from under the clothing.
which had fallen over the baby's head.
Then be gently lowered the little a
20 the ioor, and all silently watched
the strange creature squirm and strug-
gle It's way ont OF p 2 OF linen and
flannel and finally SIC mp, 2 red faced,
tearfui, screaming Dapy.
barioW 2 xpiahasao was inconerent.
foF ne, IKE tne major Granger ana
simpson, was IN 9 state OF mental
chaos. Inc Dap = screams brought BOD
q oolored oook ana all 9 servant,
rom the aiming room, ana nus nlacK
race increased the vigor OF tne
yeiis ana deepened the scarlet Y "a its
ace 20 q purpiisn tinge.
twisted wire Drooch Whicn neid
&ipA EAxtR Gark ar tho nANH 0Nua Hho