Evening star., 1898-06-04

faces in Mortified silence. Then they
laughed. Cousins Agatha's baby, on the
other side of the partition. laughed too.
The professor came to himself first and
picked up the disregarded baby stolidly
arranging the little clothes with certain
proprietary concern.
IN carry this one back he said
scleTnny. 'Tll find Cousin Agath - MS
mother, or something will break
I should think So" cried Heartsease
His mothers heart will break
, He tramped down the hallway with a
! resolute tread that inspired poor little
Heartscase with d minimum of courage
"GooI-bye, Pom" she quavered after
lin. and don't give him to the wrong
mother again
"Hoper-may-de," came back family to
| her from the front door it closed upon
Prof. Pomeroy Pettingiil Lee and the
wrong baby.
Outside in the cool air the baby woke up
aad walled in distinct rebellion to existing
circumstances.
''There-the-re." crooned the professor
wildly, tossing the little bundle of clothes
up and down till the baby in very aston
lshnent stopped crying and eyed him out
of round blue eyes. InStinctively he seemed
to appreciate the professors distress of
| nina, and gurgled sympathetic little re-
marks intended for comfort He did not
cry again at all.
To take and go back to the station
was the professors first thought. He had
a dim idea that the baby's proper owner
might be there waiting for him to bring
| II back. Anyway, he would go there--it
was something to do He hailed car and
established himself and the astonshed
baby in it.
In a corner opposite sat a little woman
in evident distress of mind She was agi-
tatcd and uneasy, and seemed to be search
ing for something, fumbiing about her
anxiously. The professors gaze lighted
upon her, and mis- heart gave an exu,tant
leap. 1t Cousin Agatha looking for
the baby. The baby's mother was still
Cousin Agatha" to the professors dazed
uncertain mind
She's little and anxious, and she's look
ing for something-by all that's mighty I've
run against her the first thing" he thought
in ineXpressibie relief. He staggered across
to the little woman's corner and dropped
the baby into her lap
Here it Is, ma 'am.'' he said eagerly
-! was Just going to find"
The little woman recoiled in evident
amazement and displeasure.
Land! she cried Take 1t away,
quick holding out the wondering baby
to him.
''I-ah--that is / thought YOU had lost
something murmured the diminished pro-
fessor, tucking the wriggling infant meek
iy under his arm again.
wen, l have, but 'taint baby-land!"
cried the little woman sharply I've lost
my best pocket handkerchief-it was the
one Ann Sophy gave me Christmas"
Inc other passengers were smiling broad
- eiiioiiS tiIeHiSel.eS. Inc little woman
edged further into her corner and regarded
the poor professor dstrustfully She seemed
to be expecting another attack at any mo-
ment, and only breathed freely when he
car
The plot thiekens." muttered Prof Pom
eroy Pettingill Lee despairingly. II reckon
were in for it, little chap"
He hovered weakly about the waiting
room for while, and then went to the
ticket agent
Isn't there place here where you leave
he began.
Certainly, certainly, sir! We have q
room where any lost articles are kept until
called for by the owner. If you will pass
The professor applied the rumpled baby
to the small square opening.
guess it'll squeeze through-it's limp"
Mighty Caesar, man, it's baby! We
don't keep that kind Of property. Err
take 1t back at once sir. Its going to
cry-sharp or you'll drop it,!
Drop 1t? Oh, no, there was no danper
Ihere wasn't any place on the top Of the
earth to drop it into. He shouldered it
again with a muffled groan. and turned
away. The tiny head nestled against his
cheek in drowsy content A little thrill of
wakening tenderness set the professors
heart strings to vibrating gently.
thinking
The next plan was to parade the streets.
In the desperate hope of running upon the
right mother among all the mothers. ''She
ought to come toward it like a needle to a
magnet, reasoned Prof. Pomeroy Pettin-
gill Lee. wisely. by all that's mighty TIl
give her a fair chance!'
But the mothers who met them and
passed them and jostled them were all the
wrong mothers Once he spied a little Wo-
man IN earnest conversation with a taller
one. They were in evident consultation.
what would you do? I'm at my wits
end. I've tried everything" the small wo-
man was saying. rather excitedly, Her
ciear-cut, distinct tones reached the pro-
lessons ear intact.
I'D advertise" the tall woman said
promptly Thats the way found mine."
By all that was might-the professor hur