Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-02-03
II L S
CRACK
JOB
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

One Tuesday night he dropped int,
Wiley's. 1t was sometimes a littl1
mixed there, and he met almost imme
diately flirtatious young woman
who. he found, was general house
maid to young couple In the sub
urbs. She prattled interesting thing
while they were sitting out dance.
Il am dead tired tonight" she con
fided. I'VE had a l o'clock luncheon
today twenty -four covers laid, an
the tables one glisten of solid silver
an cut glass We are st when il
comes to solid silver"
you must have the coin," the gov
ner remarked casually.
"Oh, 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 gov'ner regarded her with beam
Ing interest.
"A gauzy butterfly like you oughtn't
to wear themselves out with work
What's your push out thereY he in
quircd 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. | am goin' to Mulhall'i
party tomorrow night too"
Suppose the crooks do the house
an her alone?" lie suggested.
Miss Nellie squealed.
"Mercy ne! You don't think II
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 q job and ge
comfortably. away after the telephone
bell had Cd ed 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 hall
country street. Just ahead OF hin
We're the dim outlines of large lawr
heavily shaded with trees.
He vaulted the fence and strolled
leisurely up through the trees. "Noi
even boomin' dog." he murmured
pityingly.
Ten minutes later he walked quietly
into the house and found his way into
the hall. He generally found the hal
first and radiated from there
He had hardly stepped In when Q
door on the upper floor opened sharply
"Nellie! Nellie" called frightened
voice. There is something dreadful
the matter with the baby, and the tel
ephone won't work! Nellierr
The voice rose to a shrek of terror
There was a rush of mufIled footsteps
through the upper hall.
The goy'ner listened alphabetically
Nellie is at Mulhans an good until
5 o'clock" be murmured
There was an instant's silence; Their
the voice broke out afresh in deeper
terror:
''Oh, she's dying she's dyingy'
The gov'ner scratched his head dis
tractedly. He hated to see folks in
trouble.
Baby! Babys' The voice was heart
breaking. Isn't there anybody to hell
me?''
An instant later he stood at the door
Of the lighted chamber.
''Can / do anything for you, ma am
he inquired politely Il heard you as
was passin.'"
A woman knelt by the bed. She was
very childlike locking. She swept the
hair back from her face and regarded
him with terrier stricken eyes.
A baby lay OH the bed Little rings
Of dark hair curIed dampiy on its pallid
forehead Its 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 soy'ner's arm and
shook it fiercely.
Cant you 90 anything" she de
manded.
Il don't know" he said; then his face
cleared. Heaven knows from what re-
cess of his life he drew the informa
ton. but he found it.
Il know" be said briskly. Its hol
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 sudden splash in tn,
hall. and the girl mother came breath
lessly in with small tin bathtub.
SECT its Guds OFF, he said authorize
lively This water amt hot enough
but it'll have to pass now"
The poor little mothers fingers wer'
trembling. so they were nearly useless
She turned great. implorIng eyes OF
him.
please put her I'M she half whis
pered. Il am afraid to lift her.
aBlestt'' murmured the gov ner; ther
be stopped and lifted the tiny con
yuised body into the water. He felt i
relax slightly in his hands as the wa
ter submerged it,
Throw 4 blanket or something ovel
to keep III the heat.r' be commanded