The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-04-12


of the putting train into focus. His
hair rose in anguish. He hadn't thought
of that before.
"And Cousin Agatha's train came
from the west" the voice of Hearts
ease was saying in Ills ears, like the
voice of fate.
For minute they gazed into each
others face in Mortified silence; then
they laughed. Cousin Agatha's baby,
on the other side of the partition,
laughed too.
The professor came to himself first
and picked up the disrcgarded baby
stolidly, arranging the little clothes
with certain proprietary concern.
"fll carry this one back" he said
solemnly. "Tn find Cousin Agath-
his mother, or something will breakv
Il should think sor' cried Hearts
ease. His mothers heart will break"
He tramped down the hallway with
a resolute tread that inspired poor lit
tie Heartsease with a minimum Of
courage.
"Goodby, Pom!" she quavered after
him. "And don't give him to the
wrong mother again.
Hope l may die!" came back family
to her from the front door as it closed
upon Professor Pomeroy Pettingill Lee
and the wrong baby.
Outside in the cool air the baby woke
up and walled in distinct rebellion to
existing circumstances.
There, therew crooned the professor
wildly, tossing the little bundle CT
clothes up and down till the baby in
very astonishment stopped crying and
eyed him out of round blue eyes. In
stinctively he seemed to appreciate the
professors distress of mind and gur-
gled sympathetic little remarks intend
ed for comfort. He did not cry again
at all.
To take car and go back to the sta
tion was the professors first thought.
He had a. dim idea that the baby's
proper owner might be there waiting
for him to bring it back. Anyway, he
would go there; it was something TO
do. He hailed car and established
himself and the astonished baby in it,
In corner opposite sat little wom-
an in evident distress of mind. She
was agitated and uneasy and seemed
to be searching for something, fun
bling about her anxiously. The pro-
fessor's gaze lighted upon her, and his
heart gave an exultant leap. 1t was
Cousin Agatha, looking for the baby.
The babys mother was still cousin
Agatha" to the professors dazed, un-
certain mind.
"She's little and anxious, and she's
looking for something. BY all that's
mighty, I've run against her the first
thingw he thought in inexpressible re-
lief. He staggered across to the little
woman's corner and dropped the baby
into her lap.
Here it is, ma'am." he said eagerly
II was just going to find''-
The little woman recoiled in evident
amaZement and displeasure.
Land" she cried. "Take it away,
quick" holding out the wondering ba-
by to him.
''I-ah-that is, thought you had
lost something" murmured the dimin-
ished professor, tucking the wriggling
infant meekly under his arm again.
"Well, l have, but faint baby.
Land!' cried the little woman sharply.
1--WE lost my best pocket handker-
chief; it was the one Ann Sophy gave
me Christmas"
The other passengers were smiling
broadly among themselves. The little
woman edged farther into her corner
and regarded the poor professor dis
trustfully. She seemed to be expect
ing another attack at any moment and
only breathed freely when he and his
unwelcome little charge got off the
car
"The plot thickens," muttered Pro.
fessor Pomeroy Pettingill Lee despair.
ingly. Il reckon we're In for it, little
chap"
He lowered weakly about the wait
ing room for awhile and then went to
the ticket agent.
isn't there place here where you
-ah-things that have been lost
until'- he began.
Certainly, certainly, sir. We have a
room where any lost articles are kept
until called for by the owner. If you
will pass it to me-
The professor applied the rumpled
baby to the small square opening.
Il guess it'll squeeze through; it's
limp" he said cheerfully.
'Mighty Caesar, man, it's q baby!
We don't Eeep that kind Of property!
Er-take 1t back at once, sir. Its
going to cry. Sharp, or you'll drop it"'
Drop 1t? Oh, no, there was no dam
ger. There wasn't any place on the
top of the earth to drop it into. He
shouldered 1t again with a muffled
groan AID 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.
"Poor little chap" he found himself
thinking.
The next plan was to parade the
streets in the desperate hope Of run.
ming upon the right mother among all
VIC thpeASiS' pnp OCSut W SOule to-
ward it like a needle to a magnet"
reasoned Professor Pomeroy Pettinglll
Lee wisely. "By all that's mighty, I'll
give her fair chancer
But tho mothers who met them and
passed tGem and 1ostled them were all
the wrong mothers. Once he spied a
little woman In earnest conversation
with taller one. They were in evil
dent conSIlltot tion