Evening journal., 1905-01-17
A BABY'S
INFLUENCE
loriginaLl

them not for OF such Il the kingdom
Of heaven" /, workiE' man. without
much education, wouldn't "a known
what there is IN this except for a cir
cumstance I'm goin' to tell. And l
wouldn't have known It anyway II l
hadn't been a man as needed somethin'
to keep me from takin' u plunge into
the ocean O. wickedness that would "a
drawed me under.
O. l was the happy husband o. NY wife,
Mabel, and the father o. my boy, Tom
my, and was earnin' good wages in a
safe and lock company. One day was
sent to a bank to tx the safe lock. The
next day a big sum O. money was miss
ed from the safe, and was accused O.
tal1in' It. They couldn't prove nothin,
but / was discharged, and no other
company would employ me.
When / was turned out O. my home
and saw Mabel and the kid starvin' /
grew, desperate. Havin' the name Of a
thief, / concluded / might as well be a
thief The president and cashier Of the
bank I was suspicioned O robbin' had
safes in their homes, and the cashiers
I'd put in myself, and 1t would be
easy openin'. / went to the house one
night about 10 o'clock to get the bear
ms, intendin' to rob the safe just be-
fore dawn. While was standin' there
a carriage drove up, and gentleman
and lady got in. was thinkin' the
cashier and his lady was goin' out to
ball or sOme'rs, and 1 made up my
mind to do the job before they got
back.
I had no trouble gittin' into the
house, pickin' the kitchen door lock
with skeleton key and explorin' the
main floor. found nobody there. The
gas was turned low in the hall, and as
went up 1 turned it out. / knew
where the safe was. well enough-in a
little room OF the main front bedroom.
I slrirmished around awhile and made
up my mind there was ~ home
at all. Openin' the safe roo door, 1
flashed my dark lantern about and
found from the furniture, toys and
such things that was in the nursery.
/ wasn't long bein' confirmed in this,
for suddenly the light fell plumb on
the face Of a sleepin' babe.
1 knew at once that there was some
body at home with the baby, though it
might have been left with the nurse
and she gone out with her feller l
was goin' to git out when the baby,
havin' the light in its eyes, opened 'em
and looked about. Fearin' the child
would cry, / made up my mind to a
bold stroke to prevent bein' given
away. / shut the door and turned up
the gas, which was burnin' low. As
soon as the baby's eyes got used to the
light 1t smiled at me.
That smile took me back to my Tom
my at home in his little crib beside his
mother, for my Mabel wouldn't have
no nurse for her boy even IL she had
loads O. money to pay one. l went up
to the little thing and put out my fin
ger II give me the same grip Tom
was used to givin' me. 1t seemed to
me it was a grip O. welcome, and when
\ 1t said, "Goo, goo, goor' was certain
it was sayin: I'm glad you've come
My nurse has left me in the lurch, and
I'd "a been lonesome"
Well, the little chap would not go to
sleep till / put my cheek down beside
his'n and kept perfectly still for awhile
was anxious to get him of my hands
for he'd saved me from what was
a-goin' to do, and l was hot to escape
from the house without bein' caught
AS soon as 1 knew by his breathin he
was asleep ! went on tiptoe to the gas
set, turned It low and, openin' the
4 door
Hands upw said a man in dressin
gown and slippers. pointin' a revolver
at me. / recognized at once the cash
Ser.
''I haven't opened your safe, Mr.. ste
vens,' said. "Your baby saved me-"
Il know you haven't. I'VE beer
watching you through the keyhole."
81 made a blunder," 1 muttered
crestfallen. Il thought you went ou
with Mrs. Stevens"
LUCKILY luett WIS uo Ouc buN ul'
to stay with the baby, and am very
much at home, as you see. Who ar'
you and what are you doing in my
house?"
'Pm the man as fixed the safe loci
at the bank. haven't had a Job sine,
and come here intendin' to help my
SELF
"You that man?' he exclaimed, turn
in' sort O. pale.
''Yes, but 1 didn't take the banks
money"
He hung his head and seemed to b'
thinkin'; then he looked up.
II know you didn't" be said
''You know? How7"
"Come in here"
He took me by the wrist and led m'
back into the nursery and turned W
the light.
+. ''My child has saved you, and 1t hal
Is made a man of me. Promise me owe
this bit of innocence to keep my secret
and I'll set you right"
'I promise"
"When you were working at the loci
I went into the safe and took the mon
ey. needed It to make good my &C
counts, which were short. I'm all righ
for funds now ard will send the none,
TO myself as cashier tomorrow from Al
unknown penitent. Now go. l will se
that you get back your old job, an,
you shall be under my wing as long a
#Y lya