The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-03-20
BY
Jeanette
Benton
Copyright,
1903, by the
s. s. Mcclure
Company
HIS
CRACK
JOB

because there he found the smart
young women who emphasized their
social standing by minute accounts of
their mistresses' diamonds. The gov
ner had often materially increased his
bank account by those financial point
ers.
One Tuesday night he dropped into
Wiley's. 1t was sometimes a little
mixed there, and he met almost imme-
diately a flirtatious young woman
who, he found, was general house.
maid to young couple in the sub
urbs. She prattled interesting things
while they were sitting out a dance.
II am dead tired tonight" she con-
fided. "We had a o'clock luncheon
today-twenty-four covers laid, an
the tables one glisten of solid silver
an cut glass. We are it when it
comes 20 solid silver"
"You must have the coin," the gov
ner remarked casually.
ooh, not special. It's weddin' pres
ents. They've both got rich folks, an
they give them just scads an scads of
solid silver"
The govner regarded her with beam
ing interest.
"a gauzy butterfly like you oughtn't
to wear themselves out with work.
What's your push out there?" he in
CURED tenderly.
| Miss Nellie tossed her head.
"Just me an him an her an the
baby, an he gone half the time"
She unconsciously lowered her voice.
"He's gone now, an she thinks I'm
there in bed. l am goin' to Mulhalls
party tomorrow night too"
Suppose the crooks do the house,
an her alone?" he suggested.
Miss Nellie squealed.
mercy me! You don't think I'd
fight em if / was there, do you? Oh,
she's got telephone right in her room.
She could get help easy enough"
The gov'ner smiled. 1t was a lei
surely matter to finish job and get
comfortably away after the telephone
| bell had called for help. 1t was sur
prising no one had got on to a dead
open and shut job like that.
Three o'clock the next morning found
him padding gently up the still half
country street. Just ahead of him
were the dim outlines of large lawn
heavily shaded with trees.
To hn Nd n1
leisurely up through the trees. mot
even a bloomin' dogw he murmured
pityingly.
Ten minutes later he walked quietly
into the house and found his way into
the hall. He generally found the hall
first and radiated from there.
He had hardly stepped in when
door on the upper floor opened sharply.
"Nellie! Nellie!" called a frightened
voice. "There is something dreadful
the matter with the baby, and the tel
ephone won't work! Nelliev'
The voice rose to q shrek Of terror.
There was a rush Of muffied footsteps
through the upper hall.
The gov'ner listened sympathetically.
"Nellie is at Mulhall's an good until
3 O'clock" he murmured.
There was an instant's silence; then
the voice broke out afresh in deeper
terror:
ooh, she's dying-she's dyingw
The gov'ner scratched his head dis
tractedly. He hated to see folks in
trouble.
"Baby! Babyw The voice was heart
breaking. isn't there anybody to help
meY
An instant later he stood at the door
Of the lighted chamber.
"Can do anything for you, ma'am"
he inquired politely. 81 heard you as
was passin."
A 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.
A baby lay on the bed. Little rings
Of dark hair curled damply on its pallid
forehead. It's. little face was CHASTITY
blue and pinched. Suddenly its head
drew back more violently and its limbs
commenced to twitch in long, convul-
sive shudders.
she clutched the gov'ner's arm and
shook it fiercely.
"Can't you do anything?" she de-
handed.
81 don't know" he said; then his face
cleared. Heaven knows from what re-
cess of his life he drew the informa-
ton, but nv found it.
81 know" he said briskly. "It's hot
water. Go get some hot water in some
thin big enough to put the kid in"
She disappeared like an arrow loosed
from bow.
The gov'ner slipped his long, dexterous
fingers soothingly along the clammy
little body.
There was a sudden splash In the
hall, and the girl mother came breath
lessly in with small tin bathtub.
"Cet its duds OFF, he said authorita-
lively. This water amt hot enough,
but it'll have to pass now"
The poor little mothers fingers were
trembling, so they were nearly useless.
She turned great, imploring eyes on
him.
"Pease put her inv she half whis.
pered. 81 am afraid to lift her."
''Bestr murmured the gov'ner; then
ba stooued and lifted the tiny con-