Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-12-07
BARILLON'S BABY.
NWhnt did Won got FOR it2N


comfy 81. 90 Lazarus said IT was an
old, old friend, or he shouldn't have given
even that You needn't hold out your
paw, Doddy. You are not going TO get
cent Of It. Haven't you heard that poor
old Bnrillon's baby died this mornings"
"Wclly" intcrrogatcd Dodd, relaxing his
grip on the ink bottle.
"Wcll do you think that we ought TO
allow the city to get hold Of that little
scrap of humanityg No, my hoy, the Bar
illon baby was the guest of American art,
and American art IS going to bury the
Barillon baby"
For 50. 30 intcrposcd Trawlcy. "You
mean we'll, Luttcrworth, but tho things
absurd.
Look here" said Luttcrworth, push
ing some books off his bed and sitting
down in their place. ~ never fancicd we
could do the whole thing for 81 30. But n
collection
"Collcction nothing" Dodd exclaimed
with emphasis. "Thero is not enough
money to buy a sparrow in the entire set
Element. Do you think should be toiling
here if wealth could he picked up for the
askingY"
Once moro there was silence in tho
painting shop. Dodd was laboring fruit
lcssly, as it seemed, to produce a fopgy of-
feet with piece of smudgy india rubber.
Trawlcy succeeded In flndinga match and
lighted raking pittshurg stogy Tho
smoke was to him ~ Dclphic vapors were
Co the pricstcss pcrchcd on her tripod.
"1nspiration he cried. "Let us make
coffin ourselves. Where are those car
pcntcr tools of yours, Doddy?"
Dodd almost hurled the black and white
into corner. Luttcrworth allowed the
money to sink back into his pocket. Both
were on their feet in an instant
"You'l find the tools in the closet,
said Dodd. "That window seat will do
FOR a coffin, won't it,"
yes and the white hanginos to line it
WITH CALCULATED Luttcrworth, tearing
down gorgeous satin mantle, the pride
of Dodd' collection, rs he spoke.
Trawlcy iished out the carpcntcr's tools,
Dodd found some brass headed nails, and
to work with IA will went this trio of anna
teur undertakers.
slowly the window scat, which had once
been u macaroni box, found itself meta
morphoscd for the third timc-on this oc-
casion into a really respectable looking
coffin. A paint pot borrowed from the
janitor lent color to the exterior; the in
terror was richly lined with Dodd : white
satin hanginVs. The brass headed nails,
set nearly arrow, kept the satin in place,
and Dodd painted on the lid the inscrip-
ton, "Eticnnc- Alloys Barillion, aged 10
months.
As they put the finishing touches to
their work there came knock on tho
door, and, without being bidder to enter,
old Flanagan. landlord il ordinary to all
81, a, l
corpulcnt frame into the painting shop.
"Gintlcmcn," whcclcd Mr. Flanagan,
eve como afthcr the rint."
zone moment, Flanagan; one mo-
mcnt." said Luttcrworth "We're Just
finishing this coffin"
Mr.. Flannagan's jaw dropped, for tho
vord coffin reminded him of how grasp
ing landlords We're said to have been treat
ed in his native Ireland.
"FiniShin coiln!" he repeated
Dodd laughed.
Don't worry, Flanagan" he said
cts not for you"
And then as they lifted the box from
the midst of chips and shavings and set it
proudly on the drawing table they ex-
planned to Mr.. Flanagan its real purpose.
The burly landlord regarded them eau
| tiously for awhile, as though drcading
some Jest but presently his features re-
Taxed into grim smile
"Sure, an suppose yc'vc been so busy, "
he said. THAT ye didn't have time to get
the rint ready"
"1he rent must wait, said Dodd.
lit ginerally does bcdad," rctorted
Flanagan. well, won't bother We now,
boys, as | see ye'rc just settin up in "A new
business Good mOrnin to We, an good
luck to the undhcrtakin business. -
cold hearted old pig" growlcd Dodd
rs the door banged behind his landlord.
Had to make II joke of it, Of course. Some
people seem to have no feelings"
"Oh, these coarse natures, you know ~
said Irawley. "What can you expect from
an ex-contractor, whom fate has made the
landlord of studio building? But | say,
we have n lot TO do yet The coffin, fine
as it is won't save Barillon's baby from
the city We must discover some means
of raising money"
Il have 81 5On- Lutterworth was be
ginning when the door opened once more
this time to admit the ianitor lie had q
! handsome bundle of white roses in one
hand and in the other u pencilcd note
which he presented to Dodd.
From Mr.. Flanagan, - he said.
Dodd opened the nuto and read it aloud
At first with some Impotence, but witt
growing wonder as he proceeded.
Mr. Flanagan presents his compliments, bu
will you kindly accept these roses to put ur
that coffin of yoursY | suppose the French art
list cannot afford a plot in the cemetery. Well
sir, | own big one. and there only mysel
and my wife. Wen feel mighty pleased if the
French artist will take little slice of th'
Flanagan ground. Mr.. Flanagan also pre-
sents his compliments and says that if yoj
like | will send my carriage around to tina
French artists, maybe he cant hire
lcarse. also send little money, with Mr.
flannagan's compliments, 10 defray expenses
J. j. FLANNAGAN.
7. S.-That coffin is a dandy, and don't ill
to soo II go to waste.
Dodd looked penitently at Lutterworth
81 take it all back about the coarse ma
lures" exclaimed Trawley. That land
lord o1 yours is u trump. What good new
for poor Barillonr'
"Ono touch of nature" said Dodd, tax
Ing up the black and white from the cor
her. Bless me, that misty effect sccm
uuitc successful now--Or is it my eyos?'-
Gerald Brennan in Eastern Criterion.
Her Gentle Hint.
! There is a bright little l4-ycar-old cir