Middletown transcript., 1896-07-11

& and this one ha,
ronnd, engag
ing little face looking over the back Q
the car seat, to which he clung by
a pair Of chubby hands. The eyes wer
blue and reguish, and they twinkled-
actually twinkled-as Dick looked tba
way, as il they found the JOKE a goot
one.
Undoubtedly the jake was a goot
one. The girl across the car though
so, watching Dicks gambols and s'peek
a boosn over the top Of his Dewspape
in amusement tempered with admira
tion which was lost on him. For just
then the baby's eyes laughed in higt
glee and two or three little teeth sud
denly showed.
At the same moment pair of hand
went up with determination ant
jelked him down.
"Tbat old schoolma'am his motherY
thought Dick, catching glimpse of hel
side face. Pretty kind of mother! TOT
bad, old fellow" he tried to look al
the baby IS face reappeared, trilie dis
heartened this time, one cheek dowr
against the red velvet and his tongue
testing the metal strip that ran along
the top. Dick screwed his head around
to make cheering flourisbes, and then
some staring headlines upon the fa'
nous will case caught his eye.
The train stopped and went Oh again
and be looked up. By Jove, that woman
had left her baby!
There the little beggar was, all alone,
nobody within two seats of him. STOP
the trainl Where was the conducto ri
Of all the bare fac, d performances
She must have meant to do it all along!
Nobody had ever accused Dick Wat
rous of being brilliant. but his heart
was in the right place. He went fol-
ward and brought the baby back to his
own seat. The girl across the car
stole suneptitious elaLce at him out
of the corner of her eye. Really that
young man was very interesting.
'sHas she gon and left your Shabby
trickl" he said. The baby smiled
Goubtfully, but res ,on ded in friendly
way to well meant attentions. Dick
made up his mind; lie would adopt him
himself. Why not? 1t would be q
shame to desert him. ''Reckon ! can
keep you going without breaking me," "
he thought, land If | get aground
tht res always Gertrude with her
young ones TO give IN, adyi cs. !"
So, before the train had fairly stop
ped be had hoisted the baby to his
shoulder and Was eiit If the rear door.
1t was the last car, aud it landed him
close by The stains. DOWN he went.
ssHold on, shi, le said, cbeefully.
The taby did mott; lie snuggled his
cheek against Dicks. He was plainly
enough little tired. Dick let him
self into his apartment-house With his
key and pushed open the door OH the
left.
The room showed that 1t was bache-
lor quarters by Tie dust on the table.
The absence of tidits and other COM
forts Of home, aid by certain inde-
scribable look, as if where things
found themselves was where they were
intended to remain. Atall youth with
fluffy light hair aid lie outlines of a
mustache was lounging about. hands
in pockets.
"Your late," he begaE: ''did you.
what in the name OBJ
s'It's a baby }" said Dick.
''Say as much, y said Charlie.
..Whers'd you pick 1t up2 Where's its
m0ther?"
"Blest if know. She's played him
a mean dodge,n Dick explained briefly.
s.What are you going TO do with it,
now you've got it?"
.sGoing to keep him myself
"Going too--Charlie threw his
head back and whi,tled. s.What q
larkp'
81 am, l tell you. There, look at
him; amt he ont of sightr He's too
good for any orphan asylum.n
Charlie undeiwe fresh convul-
sion of mirth. "Oh, my! If you could
see yourself sitting there with it-hol
hoI-as solemn as Moses in The bull
rnshes lit 8 circusl"
"Don't see anything to laugh al"
said Dick. "Plenty Of fellows no older
than am are married and have young
ones of their own-do me no harm to
get little practice. .
you'll be unm6rcHully chaffrd,.
that's ALL
"Bet can stand it. -
"How are you going to feed il?"
''Oh, that's easy enougil'' said Dick,
confidently. ''They don't eat much but
patent stuff till they get their teeth;
kind o. mush, you know comes in.
boxes. Gertrude gets it. One box'll
probably last . week-say $50 u year.
That won't break me. Say, Charlie,
run out and get some, illyou2"
Hanged IL I dol I't look pretty
going into a drug store and asking for
baby stun; go yourself. '.
"All right; you hold him while I'm
gone. 2
No you don'tl'' Charlie backed
hastily toward the door.
Up to this moment The baby had
sat very quiet. Now, beginning to tire
Of the discussion, there came in unmis-1
taxable sharp sfaccato. sMa-maiv