Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-02
What did you lug 1t off for, anyway

What did you lug 1t off for. anyway?
Don't you know your own childg
But, my dear madam. ventured Fem
ton with a smile, 'the child wasn't mine;
the lady who had tt
We'll, couldn't she tell her own baby?'
interrupted the woman.
But when we left the fair we didn't look
inside the carriage. madame, We
''Humph; | dare, say notF, snapped the
woman. Men who go gallivanting off
with other mems wives and women who let
em amt the kind that
"Er-by the way interrupted Fenton
in his turn quietly, how about you
madam? Didn't you walk off with baby
that wasn't yours?"
well what If 1 did? Didn't I have a
good excuse? Didn't I hear that my Tilie
had fallen the whole length of the attick
stairs, and didn't l grab my carriage and
almost run all the way homer
Il accept your-apology,' smiled Fenton.
Now If you'll bring out the other baby,
please
Three minutes later, with another infant
beneath the blue parasol, Fenton hurried
back by the way he had come.
Hes asleep, Charlotte" said the man,
gleefully, to the young woman who, in the
doorway of the great stone building. was
anxiously awaiting his coming. He has
been all the way here. oh, but Charlotte,
you should have heard the calling down
1 had! I'm blot, cipher, mere snudge
on the fair surface of the earthi
You poor boyt' laughed Miss Manners,
falling into step at his side You were
a saint to face the whole thing alone. And
now we must hurry. Belle will already be
having a fit He's asleep. you say? Then
he'll be all right. won't stop even to
look at him.
For some distance they hurried along in
silence: then Fenton drew deep breath.
We'll, anyhow" he sighed, I'VE had the
Ice cream"
was it worth it?, she flashed merrily.
"Emphatically, yes" retorted the man;
then his voice changed. Perhaps you
don't know just how dear ten minutes
can be under such circumstances" lie fin
ished softly.
She shock her head
Perhaps I don't; stjll-it strikes me that
these were-dear, all right" she added
rueaningIy.
Not a bit-that way" he protested.
What's a woman's wrath, a baby's crying,
a walks WEAKNESS compared to sitting OPP
posite you for ten whole minutes? Besides.
the woman was amusing, the walk good
exercise and the baby-well, the baby was
the baby" he continued with a shrug;
and certainly it was nothing but pleasure
after the woman brought out this curly
headed youngster and put"
"Curly-headed!' interjected Miss Man
Ec-s.
WAY, yes admitted Fenton, his eyes
But there isn't curl''-began Miss Man
ners, lifting the lace and stopping to look
underneath mot a curl on--Dickr' She
was erect now, her eyes wide open and
frightened.
''WeN?" UnconsciousIy he hraced him
self
This isn't Bellies baby, elther"'
''Well-by Jove,"
But. Dick, we must do something-do
something! Dear, dear! what can we do?''
DO? Why go straight back to the fair,
OF course declared Dick, promptly, turn
ing the carriage about. BY George! Get
ting 10 be a regular clearing house for ba-
bIes-that fair, isn't it? Sure, now wen
find the distracted mother in front of the
door doing the lost child act! But, Char
iotte what DO you say to taking another
street baCk?' he asked. casting a dubious
glance down the Sidewalk over which he
had already trundled bluc-topped carriage
three times that afternoon
True to Fenton's representations, there
was young woman standing in front of
the great doors, and she was not unlike the
picture he had drawn. Her eyes were wild
her cheek pale, and her hands clasped TO-
gether in front of her breast: moreover. she
rushed forward before Miss Manners could
speak and snatched the baby from the car
riage.
There, there. come to nluzzer.. 50 he sa11r
Dld the naughty woman and her husband
take him off and run away with him, she
crooned. "MuZzer's little blessed boy,'
Miss Manners turned red. then white, Mr.
enton turned white. then red then DurpIc
me woman with the baby had Wheeled
about and was hUrrying away before Fen
ton or his companion found a tongue with
winch to demonstrate.
But, my dear woman" eEpostuIated Fen
Ton at last, would you be so kind as to
tell US where you have left the other
AT the police station of course" flung
the woman over her shoulder.
nant voices ''''''
Certainly. Where else should I take lost
babies If you please?"
and why, pray, did you come here?" de-
manded Fenton.
TO get my baby, of course she retorted
we cd too observed tie man, slowly
and suggestivcIy ~
The woman started, then co!ored q con-
fused red. g LII
why, how stupid of me-" she exclaimed
MY daughter brought the baby home with
out once looking inside the carriage. sent
hef straight to the police station on TIigFr
street with IT, and l came here as fast as
ever could. It never occurred to me thar
any one else would make the same rnisfaIre
anu run on with mine. / was stupid not to
brlng that baby with mem'
then ' tn trf you we're said Fenton calmly;
70 ask 1t, but l think you'll have to 90
this time" -'-I' 1t
" Identify it"-identify it, calculated
the woman with the baby in her arms: bnt
her words were drowned in the rumble of
.le wheels as Fenton, Miss Manners and
the empty carriage hurried down the
Forty minutes later the bIue-topped babv
carriage. bearing its rightfuI occupant,
dcnce. 's'-
Why, Charlotte!'' cried an agitated
voice, as a slender figure In white rushed
down the steps. How could you stav SO
long? Ah-Dick, And so you are the one
that kidnapped my babyn
Indeed l am not" said the man with
emphasis; and because the mother was
stopping to gather the baby in her arms.
she did not see the laugh in the mans
eyes, nor the flush on the girls face: and
because she turned at once and hurried
into the house, she did not hear the man
add: 1T wasn't this infant | kidnapedT'
There was silence for moment after
she had gone, then Miss Manners held out
her hand
.'Good-by," she said, and thank YOU
He caught the hand and held It,
Now don't forget" he pleaded, there's
a fourth time coming"
She laughed and drew away her hand.
Halfway up the steps She looked back.
"When?" she called softly
For an instant the man hesitated; then
lT