The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-28

The goyn scratched his head distracted
ly. He hated to see folks in trouble
Baby! Baby" The voice was heart
breaking. Isn't there anybody to help me?'
An instant later he stood at the door Of
the lighted chamber
Can l do anything for you ma amp he
inquired politely. II heard you as 1 was
passin'."
woman knelt by the bed She was very
childlike looking. She swept the hair back
from her face and regarded him with terror.
stricken eyes.
hair curled sdamply on its pallid forehead
It's little face was CHASTITY blue and pinched
Suddenly It's head drew back more violently
and its limbs commenced to twitch in long,
| convulsve shudders. So
She clutched the gov ner's arm and shook
it fiercely.
Cant you do anything?" she demanded.
81 don't know" he said; then his face
cleared. Heaven knows from what recess Of
his life he drew the information, but he
found it,
II know he said brisk1y. ITS hot water
Go get some hot water In somethin' big
enough to put the kid in.
She disappeared like an arrow loosed from
a bow.
| The govner slipped his long, dexterous nm
gers soothingly along the clammy little body.
| There was sudden splash in the hall, and
| the girl mother came breathlessly in with 4
| small tin bathtub.
| Get its buds off, he said authoritatively.
| This water amt hot enough, but it'll have
| to pass now
| The poor little mothers fingers were trem-
bling so they were nearly useless. She turned
| great imploring eyes on him.
| please put her in,' she half whispered.
81 am afraid to If. her"
| "Blest:'' murnured the gov'ner: then he
| stopped and lifted the tiny convulsed body
| into the wafer. He felt it relax slightly in
| his hands as the water submerged IT.
Throw blanket or something over to
keep in the heat" he commanded Then
| skin OUT cant you, an get some hotter
| water Get a move on you, too"
| She had already gone. y ss.E
| He knelt by the chair regarding the small
face he was supporting above the blanket
anxiously. It less Dinched now and lay
Imply on his hand, small and pathetic
"Such little kid he said softly-"such
| bloomin little kid!''
The long lashes slowly lifted, and the dark
eyes gazed into his. Slowly the purpled lids
closed again, and tremor shook its body.
He swore softly. "Ain't she ever cornin's
This layout will freeze the kid in blasted
| minute o
He gathered the baby up in the blanket and
commenced to pace the floor, watching the
tiny face with strained attention.
| The tlue shadows deeoened under its eyes;
the tiny waxen nose pinched closer and clos
er; the small mouth seemed settling into
terrible calm.
He swore as he walked. In that way he
managed in measure to relieve his feelings.
| SIS she dead? ?" asked a choked, GREATNESS
voice at the door,
| The girl mothers face was ghostly, but the
only thing he was the steamang kettle in
| her hand.
Nav" he snarled: but he was not so sure
| He lowered the child carefully into the
water.
"Now, just keep pouring-a little. a little
to keep it warmin' up.
Ten, fifteen minutes passed.
A faint, white glimner of life commenced
to treanble across the babv's face. The blue
| nostris filled. -
| '.She's comm through" he announced ri-
umphantly. ''Now give me a dry blanket.
! He wrapped her warmly in it and laid her,
weary and sleepy, but palely pink. on the
bed
Then he shook himself like man coming
out of a trance He, suddenly remembered his
burglars kit in the lower hall. Dawn was
breaking, too. and it might not be SO easy
| getting back with it to town. ~-=.- -.-,s-r-
The grl mother looked at him with moist
grateful eyes.
"You are SO good she said with CULVER
ing voice. s'Baty would have died it you
hadn't ..
u She hesitated. Some way she could not
quite place him. He did not look like a work
ingman. He was not a gentleman. She
dimly remembered that he had sworn at her
dreadfully.
She went to the dresser and picked uo a
little steel-tneshed purse. Inside Law SO
bill and dollar. -.-.4.. -~
"Wou1d you mind she said desperately,
.if gave you a dollar? wish could give
YOU more but it is all the money have. and
Fred won't be back until the last OF the
! week.
| der small. trernulous fingers chung to his
an instant and tear splashed down on them.
81 cant thank you. can't thank you,
she sobbed.
| The sov'ner locked at her helplessly. at the
SO in the purse and the little heap OF Ola
monds on the dresser.
Then he went down stairs, the dollar in his
hand.