The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-07-28

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was SICK. Gle AFTER another or tnc
women In the cabins gave up the struc.
clio and retired.
This was what led 20 an unexpected
experience for Malcolm Klrk. The babv
woke utl and for the first time there
was no one 20 take care OF him. The
three women stewards were busy with
their duties. and one OF them who had
prepared the baby's milk suddenly
came up to Kirk. who was standing by
the long dining table. and asked him IL
he couldn't take tho baby awhile
IL don't know what wen DO" she
said In great perplexlty. Tho women
are oil sick. and we have our hands
full caring for them. You can hold
him all right. can't your He's the
best baby you ever saw"
by this time the baby had developed
q good. healthy cry that could be easi-
ly heard through the roar OF the storm.
Kirk looked doubtfully at the ST.
ardess.
am afraid I'll drop him." he said.
"Drop him! A great strong man
like you!" said the woman, whom Kirk
was sure was laughing little ut his
hesitation. Hell be all right as soon
as he has some dinner poor fellow"
"Well, bring him here Them said
Kirk desperately. And the woman
quickly brought out the baby and plac-
ed him In Kinks long arms.
IL the few passengers still In the dim
Ing room had not been so miserable
from approaching seasickness. they
certainly would have laughed at the
sight OF Malcolm Kirk holding that
baby. He really tried TO be as gentle
with IL as Its own mother ever was,
but 1t seemed to him that he sprawled
all over the cabin I'm his efforts TO keep
the baby where the woman said no
ought to be.
But the tremendous storm was partly
to blame for that. Kirk braccd his
feet against the legs OF the table and
held on to the baby as II II was life
preseryer. The milk In the bottle was
first In one end OF IL and then In the
other. Every time the baby missed
getting II he cried with yigor that
made Kirk afraid he would burst a
blood vessed or rupture his lungs. FL
nally. however. matters were adjusted
so that the baby's hunger was satisfied,
and he dropped asleep In Kinks arms.
Kirk was so afraid TO carry him over
to the cabin where he had been kept
that he held him for nearly an houh
The storm howled over tho vessel.
there was a remarkable confusion OF
oil sorts OF noises In every part OF the
steamer. Kirk noticed. however, that
the stewards and one or two officers
In were unconcerned. 1T will blow IT,
self out before morning." was the
statement OF the surgeon who came
down In n luIl Of the tempest.
He laughed Mt the sight OF Kirk and
the baby. But, being a man with q
baby OF his own mt home In Liverpool
there was also little moisture about
his eyes that was not caused by the
ocean spray.
you'll do, man." he said. "And the
boy Will make fine sailor. looks like.
Ho sleeps through the storm IA II he
were used to being rocked In the era.
die OF the deep But we must be after
looking up the other woman when we
get across"
Eyes. yes" said Kirk eagerly. lie
had a long talk with the surgeon. aud
next morning after the storm had sub
sided and they had gone out 10 breathe
the fine salt air Kirk had no difficulty
ln persuadIng the surgeon to keep tho
body OF the mother and help In soms
way TO set II to the sister ~ London.
AYE. aye. We'll arrange Il all right
The company will see 10 that. But tho
expense OF the rest. man. Can't you
SEQ to II that the passengers do some
thing for the baby to give him start
Ia life?"
u had already thought OF IT," said
Kirk, and the fact revealed one Of
great qualifications for the minlst
f'Ill go pp on the other deck aud 500
the first cabin passengers about H."
The surgeon was q Scotch freshman
with big heart. He had influence