The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-10-16
THE FOUNDLING.

anuoying error in posting by an under
bookkeeper had detained him at the of
fee. 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 in 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 inpatient
ly 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 We're all past
middle age, and any depression from
the routine Jared the entire domestic
machinery for the time Dinner was al
ways served at O'Clock, and Barlow
felt more than guilty, for it was not
only nearly 8 o'clock, but the afternoon
was the Saturday half holiday, and he
should have 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
he approached the center house of the
middle block he felt for his latchkey
and drew it from his pocket when he
turned to ascend the steps. The key
dropped from his hand, and he fell back
pace for cooling at him from the cor
ner of the little porch baby stretched
its chubby arms toward him and smiled
when the key jingled on the stone step.
Barlow's first thought was that he
had taken the wrong steps, and he stead
lily stared at the number painted on the
transom. The number was right, and he
rapidly checked it off with the familiar
window curtains and the doormat The
majors burly form came into view
through the window, and then Barlow
concentrated his attention on the baby.
1t cooed gently and made an effort to
crawl down the steps
Hold on; you'll 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 baby in his arms.
For several minutes he stood looking
up and down the street, but 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 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 you got there?"
The baby kicked its heels and struck
out with its arms as though swimming,
for Barlow S hand was under its 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 he was
holding over his pipe bowl, and it burn
ed to his fingers as he gazed blanllly at
Barlow and the kicking infant.
The oppressive silence was broken by
a sudden cry from the baby, and the
major caught it by one leg just in time
to save it from striking the floor, fol
Barlow dropped it when the cry came
For a second the major held the bah!
by its leg, while series of muftled ex
plosions came from under the clothing
which had fallen over the baby's head
Then he gently lowered the little on
to the floor, and all silently watche,
the strange creature squirm and strug
gle its way out of the maze of linen am
flannel and finally sit up, red faced
fearful, screaming baby.
Barlow's explanation was incoherent
for he, like the major, Granger AM
Simpson, was i'll a state of menta
chaos. The baby screams brought Bob
the colored cook and all around servant
from the dining room, and his blacl
face increased the vigor of the infantil
yells and deepened the scarlet hue of it
face to a purplish tinge.
A twisted wire brooch which hell
the little sack at the neck gave tn
baby's name as Joey" The major wa
seized with an inspiration Swapping
his fingers, he said, Here, joey, here
here, here as he used TO speak to tn
only dog he ever owned.
The other men felt an immense ad
miration for the major, for Joey sud
denly stopped crying. The minute of 81
lence seemed an hour to the anxious oil
bachelors looking down at the tin
stranger.
Joey was strangely quiet. His moutl
was wide open, his eyes bulged, and
rafting sound in his throat alarmed
Barlow.
For heavens sake, get some water
Thump it ON the back. Open all tn,
windows The baby is choking t,
death. And he dropped ON his knee
and began beating the baby's back anC
chest with his palm. A pitcher anC
glass of water We're brought. The win
dows and doors were thrown open, anC
the major, wildly excited, swished {
newspaper in the baby's face, tanning
it frantically. Simpson dashed glass
of water into Joey's eyes and mouth
and the baby, after several gasps, burs
out crying and yailing again.
"Jingle some keys at himr' beloved
the major, bobbing his watch up anc
down six inches from the baby's face.
"Talk to him; talk to him. Don't yor
know some baby talk? Here, joey, here,
here. " And the major stopped his roar
ing and whistled, swapping his fingers.
His efforts were futile. Joey cried the
louder, and the men left him in the
middle of the floor I'D sat down to 1
solemn consultation.
We've got to stop that crying first, ;
said Simpson Now, | remember
picked up woman's paper once in {
doctors office. 1t had a dozen columns
ON the care of babies. I'll go to the cor
ner and get some papers and maya
zines" And Simpson hurried to thu
corner news store. He returned with hi