New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-28
FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY.
A BACHELORS ADVENTURE.

Hes a regular little jollyboy."
Dick watrous was one Of the few bachelors
Svho are not afraid Of baby; and this one hao
q round, engaging little face looking over the
back OF the car seat, 10 which he cluns oy
pa.r of chubby hands. The eyes were blue ana
rogu!sh. and they enthusiastically twinkied-
as Dick looked that way, as il they found the
Joke good one.
Undoubtedly the joke a good one. The girl
ACROSS the car thought 90. watching Dicks gam
boLs and peek -boos" over the top OF his news
paper in amusement tempered with admiration
which was lost on him. For just then the babys
eyes laughed In high glee and two or three III
tie teeth suddenly showed
At the same moment a pair Of hands went up
with determination and jerked him down
THAT old schoolma am his MOTHER" thought
Dick, catching a glimpse OF her side race
s'Pretty kind Of mother! Too bad. old Fellow, ne
tried to look as the baby's face reappeared
,r,Ae dsheartened this time. one cheek down
against the red velvet and his tongue testing the
metal strip that ran along the top. Dick screwed
his head around 10 make few more cheering
fourishes and then some staring headlines upon
the famous will case caught his eye
The train stopped and went on again. and ne
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 train. Where
was the conductor? OF all the barefaced per-
formances! She must have meant to do 1t all
along
Nobody had ever accused Dick Watrous OF be-
ing brilliant, but his heart was IN the rieh'
place. He went forward and brought the oaDy
back to his own seat. The girl across the car
stole surreptitious glance at him out OF the cor
ner Of her eye. Really that young man was very
interesting.
.Has she gone and left you? Shabby trick.
ne said The baby smiled doubtfully, but re-
sponded in a friendly way to well-meant atten-
tons Dick made up his mind; he would adopt
him himself Why not? 1t would be shame TO
desert him. Reckon can keep you going WITH
out breaking me-" he thought. and II get
aground there's always Gertrude with her young
ones to give me advice
So before the train had fairly stopped. he had
hoisted the baby to his shoulder and was out on
the rear door. 1t was the last car. and 1t LANDED
him close by the stairs Down he went Hold
ON. sirv' he said. oheerfully The baby did more;
he snuggled his cheek against DICKS He was
plainly enough a little tired. Dick let himself
into his apartment-house with his key ana
pushed open the door on the left
The room showed that It was bachelor quarters
by the dust on the table. the absence Of Tides
and other comforts Of home, and by certain in
describable look. as If where things found them
selves was where they were intended to remain
"A tall youth with fluffy light hair and the out
lines of a mustache lounging about. hands
In pockets
you're late" he began; Ibid you-what in the
name Of
TITS baby" said Dick.
"Say as much" said Charlie. 'Whered you
pick It up? Where's its mother?'
"Blest If know. She's played him mean
dodge" Dick explained briefly
What are you going to do with It. now you've
got rT'
Going to keep him myself"
Going to- Charlie threw his head back
and whstled What a lark
II am, I tell you. There. look at HIM; amt he
out OF sight? He's too good for any orphan
asylum"
Charlie underwent a fresh CONFUSION Of mirth.
''Oh. my! II you could see yourself sitting there
with tho! ho.--as solemn as Moses in the bull
rushes-its a circusr
Don't anything to laugh at" said Dick.
"Plenty Of fellows older than am are mar
ried and have young Of their own-do me
no harm to get little practice"
You'll be numerically chaffed. that's ALL"
BET can stand it,
How are you going to feed it?"
"Oh, that's easy enough" said Dick, confident
IT, They don't eat much but patent stuff till
they get their teeth kind O mush, you know;
comes in boxes. Gertrude gets 1t. One boxl
probably last week-say $50 a year. That
won't break me. Say. Charlie. run out and get
Some. will your
Hanged If I DO. ia look pretty going into
drug store and asking for baby stuff; go your
self"
"AN right; you hold him while I'm gone"
mo you DON'T" 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 unmistakable sharp staccato,
"Ma-ma"
"Caesari I didn't know he could do thatw said
Dick. with a start. What did he say?'
said mamma Punch him; maybe he'll do 1t
again"
"Ma-maw cried the baby louder than before.
That won't do. You've got to get that"
paid Dick firmly. Look at that. now! See?
Whoop-lai" He shook his watch chain violently
and trotted the baby up and down on his knee
Charlie showed signs of another outbreak. Dicks
face grew red but he went trotting; also, the
baby went on crying
What do you propose to DO about the Pro-
Sessor?' asked Charlie. A year younger than
Dick. he was half dozen years older in know-
edge of the world; or DIT least he thought SO,
which comes to the same thing.
II don't know" answered the other, perplexed.
IT thought maybe he wouldn't know anything
about it. he's so absent minded
He ought to know something's up with all
that hoodoo. I'll tell him" He went down the
hall 10 a closed door and opened II.
1t was half study. half laboratory; books. Jars,
retorts, a battery. rows Of labelled drawers; and
at a table Uttered with papers. writing with
arms sprawled among them. sat the Professor a
sddde-aged man of muscular build. though a
tribe oop-shouldered. grzzed beard and spec
tacled eyes.