The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1905-07-13
( BABY's
INFLUENCE
lOriginal.l

of hea ven." l, a workin' man. without
much education. wouldn't "a known
what there is in this except for a cir
cumstance I'm goin' to tell. And ]
wouldn't have known 1T anyway If I
hadn't been a man as needed somethin'
to keep me from takia a plunge into
the ocean o. wickedness that would "a
drawed me under.
was the happy husband o M wife,
Mabel. and the father o. my boy. Tom
my. and was earnin' good wag in a
safe and &C company. One day l was
sent to a bank to fix the safe lock. The
neXt day a big sum O money was miss
ed from the safe, and | was accused o
takin' 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' l
grew desperate. Hayin' the name of a
thief. / concluded l might as we'll be a
thief. The president and cashier of the
bank l was suspicioned O Robin had
safes in their homes. and the cashiers
l. II put III H. Sell. H II Jul DS
easy openin'. l 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 n gentleman
and a lady got in. | was tllinkin' the
cashier n his lady was goin' out to Il
ball or some'rs, and | made up my
mind to do the job before they got
back.
1 had nc trouble gittin' into the
house. pickiu' the kitchen loo ock
with Il skeleton key and expiorin' the
main floor. | found nobody there. The
gas was turned low in the hall. and as
l Went up | turned it out. | knew
where the safe was. well enough-in a
little room off the main front bedroom
/ skirmished around awhile and mad,
up my mind there was nobody home
at all. Openin' the safe room door. |
flashed my dark lantern about and
found from the furniture, toys and
such things hat l was in the nursery.
/ wasn't long bein' confirmed in this.
for suddenly the light fell plumb on
he face of a sleepin' babe.
l Knew at once that there was some
body at home with the baby. though ii
might have been left with the nurse
and she gone out with her Teller. ]
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
| shut the door and turned up
the gas. which was burnin low. AS
soOn as the baby's eyes got used to tho
light it 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 ven if she had
loads o money to pay one. l vent up
to the little thing and put out my fin
ger. 1t give me the same grip Tom
was used to giyin' me. 1t seemed to
me it was a grip O. welcome, and when
1t said, Goo. goo, goo!" | 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 20 to
sleep till | put my cheek down beside
his'n and kept perfectly still for awhile
I was anxious to get him off my hands.
for he'd saved me from what | was
a-gofn' TO do. and | was hot TO escape
from the house without bein' caught.
As 0 o as | knew by his breathin' he
was asleep | went on tiptoe to the gas
jet. turned it low and. openin' the
door
Hands up said a man in dress1n'
gown and slippers. pointin' a revolver
at me. | recognized at once the cash
Ter.
Il haven't opened your safe, Mr.. Ste
yens," l said. Your baby saved me-"
Il know you haven't. I've been
watching o through the keyhole."
Il made a blunder." l muttered.
crestfallen. Il thought you went out
with Mrs. Stevens"
Luckily there was no one but me
to stay with the baby, and l am very
much at home. as o see. Who are
you and what are o doing in my
house?'
I'm the man as fixed the safe lock
at the bank. / haven't had a job since
and come here ntendi to help my
self
You that many' he exclaimed, turn
in sort o. pale.
Yes. but l didn't take the banks
money"
He hung his head and seemed to be
thinkin': then he looked up.
Il know you didn't" he said.
You know? HowT"
Come In here"
He took me by the wrist and led me
into the nursery and turned up
the light.
MY child has saved you. and it has
made Il man of me. Promise me over
bit of innocence to keep my secret.
and I'll set you right"
Il PROMISE"