The St. Louis Republic., 1905-12-24
The Baby and the Burglar
Spend Christmas Eve Together
By EDWIN L. SAB IN

ne IHeSuIloUSy IO0IGSSSSSSs NOf0
comm in' he mumticd. Wat would cops be
comm in for: Most Of EN- got kids Of their own
They know wat a baby's heller Is. "
Its wuss n q burglar-alarm!" grow)cd the
other man. Holy Moses. Bill! Leave the kid
CRY then an get busy an lct's skin out!
Watts he cryin' for. d. you s'pose:" queried
Bill Ask the gent. there"
Il don't KNOW" snapped Winfield !. shortly.
Frightened at you no doubt"
Nav. he amt scarf Of me. asserted Bin. Why.
babies all take to me es1er. Where's the Oh
woman."
MY wife is at Sunday school Christmas-trcc
entertainment informed Winfield l.
NV or woman. she's out too" responded Bill
chccrily Down at the Salvation Army d"in's.
But l left the baby with his hsothcrs an sisters
Say. You ought to have lot o kids. Then they
take care Of each other. That's the dicker."
"Wa-a-a-a-a a-a-a-ah!" lamentcd Winfield II.
Used to i,e sat down to hum myself to watch the
babv while the Or woman out gabbln." con-
tinucd Bill affaily. But that don't go now.
"Oh. GOMEZ" snaricd his colleague. Of the re-
volvcr This amt no Mothers Congress-! Are
YOU soin' to yet in your work. or amt you: ketch
me tryin' another job with teller like you. Bill
"Wa-a-a-a-a a-a-a-a-ah!" lamcntcd Winfield H.
IL wisht you'd make that kid shut up!" rctorted
the other. 81 never hcared such q noise!
You don't know nothin' about babies anyhow" :"
asserted Bill with great scorn. You ought to
WELL If Id knowcd ! comm out with
nursc-maid Id a come alone" growled the other.
Are YOU goin' through things in there. OF amt
you:"
YES. 70. goodness sake do your iPb and clear
icsought Winfield l.. writhng in agony Of spirit as
the wall Of Winfield ii. rosc higher. unccssing.
You stav Jest where you te!'' warned his guard
ian. sticking the revolver muzzle against him.
Winfield l. collapsed and could only glare. VIM
field II. showed no symptoms Of co!!apsing
"Aint there burcau." asked Winfield s
guardian Of Bill the stin unseen.
YES, there's 4 bureau. Rather. q ChihOnier-
hut j, s all the samc' grnanc Winfield I. In the
bottom drawer. under my fanncls. you'll md q
case Of sold-silvcr spoons Take en- In the Md
de drawer. in a hack corner among some hand
kcrchicfs is a set Of gold studs and cuh-!'uttons
Take EN- Nv wife intending to give them to
me on Christmas but take en-. There ought to II.
a silver mug in the same drawer. Take It. too. 1t
was for the baby. from his uncle. But take it. Take
whatever YOU want-takc the whole blamed bureau
only" and here his voice swelled to AN irascibIe
snort. get out. and Iet me IN to that young
stcr''
"Wa-a-a,a-a a-a-a,a-ah a-a-a-a-ah!' l.mcntcd
Winfield H.
YOU hear wat the gent says about that bottom
drawer, Bill"
An hear the baby too answered Bill
Now " AZ IL" YOU Is'< IL ti'c 'attc' VI ''i' -
hungry let you!' nc avcrrcd trinmphantIy
Ask the gent which is the menoo-natural os a "a
t.,ttlc."
Gu, baby is lsing brought mp on the bottle.
responded Winfield ]. stifiiy.
Heres the bottle: where's the milk" asked Fill
I'D bottle YOU. If ] could do /, without tr,n
jussed fo. it, grcwled his colleague. Wat d you
think come here for: To ten infant class:
The baby WAS fed at seven O'Clock when he Wa:
p,,, 10 bed We do not feed him again until mid
night" stated Winfield l. austcfcly.
"Aw. comet It's Christmas Eve: give i'm Al
extra swig. say" cajoled Bill. Milk 5 in ths
pantry, amt it," and they heard him open do"t
and ga s,umping off into the back Of the house.
Til ~ iincd fool" rnrttered the guardian q
w,c..li 4 v.pysf,lIy *, you set 80 he Caus,onct