The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-02-17

| There was nothing else to do-thc snperin-
dent stopped and gingerly rescued him.
The baby cries had been interrupted by
the accident, and they did not now re.
commence. He stared blankly at his
preseryer. Each was afraid of the other
The state of mental apprehension was
relieved by the Hurried reappearance of
the youthful nurse. With a flushed coun-
tenance she FASTENED to tighten the super
intendent of the burden lying so awkward
ly in his arms. To her overtures the baby
| responded with an energetic scream of OBJ
lection.
"Sh-sh-shr' said the girl Come,
now.'
1T seems to prefer me, doesn't it?'
huskily admitted the superintendent, set
back by the change of programme The
baby, clingins to MIN with astonishing
strength, was quiet once more.
Yes sir, replied the girl, with en-
barraSsed shyneSs.
Perhaps T. better keepit a while, if
that will stop its crying. Maybe it viii
60 to sleep" he suggested, seizing on a
possible reprieve for himself and his suffer
ing neighbor.
II don know, sir. answered the girl,
doubtfuIly.
We'll, we Il see. he continued look
ing down at the small being on his lap.
Am holding it risht?''
YES, sir; he doesn' mind having his
legs twisted little, assured the girl
When he goes to sleep you can lay him
down. But think ought to take him -
NO, indeed, interpoSed the superin,
tendenf, in memory hearing those appall-
10. soauds renewed
He sat there stiftiy, bolt upright, not
daring to move. the baby clasped in his
arms, and he felt very silly This was
the 6r>t baby tina, lie ever had handled,
and he was over forty. On his part the
baby was peering up with all his might,
but his eyes we're becoming drowsy.
You can lit here if you ike, where
you can watch, said the superintendent
to the girl, indicating the seat facing him.
You don mind riding backward? he
added, politely
..Oh, no. sir. she declared; and she
slipped in The other three children who
had formed wondering audience, crowded
aud clamored after her
Where are you -uing? inquired the
superintendent.
Fargo, in Dakota, she replied, her
manner no, We, free from ,imidiry
We've lest all our money, vouch
safy-d Miss Ei-h, year old, frankly
That too badl How did it happen?
asked the superintendent
Il don't know, sir, said the older
girl. ''Only after we go, on this train
found didn't have any more,
And shat viii you do2 pursued the
superintendent,
"Our tickets take Us 70 Chicago. and
when We get there IN telegraph papa,
she returned proudly.
And where paPag persisted the su.
periniensien,.
Why he IN Dakota, on a farm, and
he's 10 meet US in Fargo
But IN afraid YOU can { telegraph to
I Fargo without money to pay for the mes
age. and, besides, how Is he to know
I there a telegram for him2 excepted the
superintendent.
oh exclaimed the girl, puzzled for
moment bu, nevertheless andaGnted
Papa 4 >epd u money, trustfully
affirmed Miss Eight-year-old, sqairming
+ against the superintendent, knees
| Re careful. IItlda, YOU u wake baby
aimonishel the girl II guess you can
/ law ay him down now, sir, if YOU do it
gently. He's asleep, think
/ The superintendent cautiously obeyed
/ the instrumentation. The operation was
conducted TO successful completion. and
the thoroughly suddued infant slumbered
peacefully on the crimson cushion MIR
( Kilroy was more At ease Immediately.
/ Nevertheless, with baby on the same
/ seat. a child at his knee, two others wrig
Cling At the window at his elbow, and a
girl, who really was only u child, a. his
/ Wis Wis. his position Continued to be most
extraorliuary-for him. And yet, strange
To saw. he found that his ill-humor was
fast vanishing.
$50 this Is Hilda?'' he asked. Then
what Is your name2
'louise-Louise Swanson. And that
Is Gusta, and that is John, and the baby
Is Peter
Mamma dead, announced Hilda,
in mater Of fact way
YES, explained Louise, with growing
assurance in her new acquaintance. I'VE
lived in Export, Pennsylvania, and papa
/ went out 10 Dakota over a year ago and
/ when mamma died he sent for us TO come
10 him; he was counting on having Us all
a. soon as he got settled. = Louise 5 eyes
filed with tears.
'.Wen. well, that's long journey
and Just you in charged calculated the
superintendent.
SAY ike your' stated Hilda, can
didlv thrusting her hand into his.
This frank avowal rather startled the
superintendent, who was not used TO such
overtufes. THANK you" he answered
/ reSeTNeuiY, not NiSnlI8 ~ Suuit iuAthSA
advances from the susceptible but grimy
young lady.
Futile was his lodging. In an instant,
without warning, came an attack from
another quarter Master John it was who
unceremouiously pumped down upon his
lap and affectionately embraced him.
ooh, Johnnie, don't 7 pleaded Louise,
Mortified at the audacity.
Never mind; let him stay, spoke the
SUPERINTENDENT bravely
Johnnie stayed, to be joined within a
moment by Gusta, equally as ambitious.
Said the grinning brakeman, who long
ago had recognized the official, but had
pretended ignorance, to the conductor, who
also was in the secret, Look at the odd
man viii you regular happy family,
isn't he Somebody ought to take
a photograph of him p
Could the superintendent 5 many friends
and associates, business and social, have
seen him thus engaged when the train
pulled into Chicago they would have gazed
agape, thunderstruck, nearly incredulous.
And the sight of this same superintendent
conveying the children into the station