Middletown transcript., 1896-05-09
ITS PAPA WENT OUT TO SMOKE.
Willie Baby Took Part In q Comedy of
Errors In the Car.

While Baby Took Part In Comedy Of
Errors In the Car.
Queer as it seemed, no one laugh
ed. The young man held the baby
as though he had been carrying
4-week- old infants all his life. He
was transfer" from q North
State street Car waiting with other
transfers" for Lincoln avenue ca.
BILE going north. No woman was
with him, and he stood on the COR
ner, the little one snug1y cuddled in
his arm, its head on his shoulder
and the long baby skirts tucked well
out of the way. Every woman in
the crowd commented favorably up
on the young mans skill and apti-
tude. and the men eyed him with
secret envy and deep respect.
The Lincoln avenue Car, as usual,
was crowded, but baby in arms al
ways has the right of way, and the
young man found a seat. Before
North avenue was reached the crowd
thinned out, and the passenger who
occupied the corner seat next to the
young man left the car. In a jiffy
the little, red faced baby was plant
ed in the corner and in some mystic
rious manner was securely support.
ed by the end of the Car and the
back of the seat. The women smiled
and the men grinned when the young
man. leaving the baby tucked away
in the corner, stepped out on the
front platform, wiped the perspira-
ton from his brow and lighted
cigar. Every block or SO he opened
the door, stuck his head inside and
satisfied himself that the little one
was safe. A young woman, accom-
panied by an elderly matron, sat
near the baby, and whenever the Car
lurched she stretched out her hand
and held the baby in its corner
just before the car reached the
curve at Center and North Clark
streets she moved up TO the baby
and held it when the car Shot around
the bend
At the corner of Sedgwick street
and Lincoln avenue womG:l of de-
termined mien and firm lips, so
years old or tbereabout, entered
the car. The only vacant seat was
between the young woman and her
elderly companion. The young wom-
an, however, moved away from
the baby, leaving that space for tho
newcomer. The latter glanced at the
lonesome baby and then at the
young woman with ludicrous ex-
preston of surprise. and. rather be-
wildered. hesitated to take the prof
fered seat. When she did take it,
she sat bolt upright on the edge of
the seat, looking first at the baby
and then at the young woman, who
was serenely uncon-
scious of the suspicious scrutiny.
The very next corner the young
woman signaled the conductor. The
car stopped and she rose. Without
SO much as noticing the baby she
walked toward the rear platform.
The woman next to the baby gasp
ed. She stretched out her hand i'm
pulsively, turned full upon the baby,
and the passengers held their breath.
She gasped again, leaned forward,
and then, suddenly rising. called out
sharply: Here, here. Where are
you going? Come back and get your
baby. What under the SUM-
Then the passengers broke in with
4 shout, the front door opened and
the young man appeared. The young
her face crimson, hurried
through the rear door; the excited
female next to the baby stood in the
,isle with her eyes swapping and her
mouth open. The young man, pick
ng up the baby, sat down and oud-
He'd the little one in his arms, bliss
fully unconscious that next to him
was woman mad clear through,
corching the grinning passengers
With so glanoes that had the pene-
rating power of Professor Roent-
,en's rays.-Chicago Record.