Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1907-04-18

Hae se~t aaay w ttat Nuounu ~
,spile tn lesson his home trainin' on
IN farm might learn him." declared
Mr.. splodgett. almost sourly. rising
10 depart.
When I returned from school NJ
noon the next day found Mr.. Currier
Harvesting his horse with every indi.
cation OF being In 4 hurry. As he
buckled the straps he told me Mr..
Splodgett had been thrown from his
wagon shortly after leaving us the
night before and had broken leg.
My host suggested that accompany
[ him on Q visit to the injured man. and
~ was curious TO note II anything
agreeable had occurred TO mar obed's
pleasure In possessing fractured
limb ! accepted the invitation.
We found him propped up In q most
uncomfortable chair. trying to read
wfthout his spectacles. 'I've snapped
. LEG four times" he saluted. but tn
Doctor thinks this is tn worst yet.
An. eye know. kind OF feel as though
hs'd made q botch OF settin' tn bones.
jsst tapped my foot on tn floor be-
100 - come In an II hurt like sin.
0ssss I'm in for q siege Of t."
Amt heard 'em talkin' on tn poor
farm yst. have ye, obed!" joked Mr..
CuTsse.
Almost" the other grinned. "s'pose
I'm soon have an addition over there
b a Binger baby. won't ye?"
I enjoyed his frown as Mr.. Currier
replied: "Baby's been adopted"
rhen he won't go?" was the dis.
piritsd query.
Wal. not fer another week" modi.
ned my host. Il should have said he
was only temporary adopted. Coin
. week from next Monday"
Ar Splodgett frightened perceptibly
% being assured the baby's lease on
reepectabllity was not permanent. and
he chuckled at my hosts short lived
triumph and said: I'VE told me that
before. That's nothln'. TIL fact re-
mains. he's got ter go. Wal. it'll be q
good trainln' an lesson ter him"
II was relief to be at school on
the Monday Mr.. Currler went after the
child TO take Il 10 the poor form. !
aid not care to see him when he
passed through the district, and there
fore. when came home to dinner and
learned he had not arrived, but was
expected every minute. tried to
hurry through the meal and evade
him. Just as had refused pie. much
10 SIS amazement. and was leaving
the table. wagon drove into the yard
and Mrs. Currier announced: Here's
Meth with tn baby"
But II was not her husband; Il was
the optimistic Mr.. Spl0dgett, half re.
clining on an improvised couch. while
his sister. a grim. wooden faced WON.
an. very deaf and seldom known to
speak, held the reins.
Meth here?" he inquired. 81 can't
come In. Had all | could do ter git
Inter tn wagon. II tn fish peddler
hadn't come along an gimme boost
Id still be ter home, guess. Most
tipped over twice. Gee! but that
leg frets me-"
Mrs. Currier had hardly explained
her husbands absence when another
wagon whirled into the yard and my
heart sank as saw the small bundle
my host was so carefully holding In
the hollow OF his left arm. I had
hoped the baby had found perma'
nent home with his foster mother Of
the week. Mr.. Curriers' face looked
very sour as he tossed the lines to
81 and said: Hang this bein' s'lect.
man an cartin' babies ter tn poor
house! / don't mind a growed-up
pauper, cause they are usually shift
less an Jest as lief be there as any
where. But this little cuss amt done
nothin' ter desarve 1t. Anyway, well
give him one more Independent din
nsr before he comes ter takin' town
Hello, Obed. No use ter
speak ter yer sister. Hitch, an
come In"
"Lem'me see him, Meth. ! can't Gil
down, ye know" said Mr.. Splodgett :,
his face now rejecting only pleasure. U
"Ye might walt till ye git well an
call on him at tn poor farm" replied
my host, grimly. yet resting one foot
on the hub of the wheel and holdina
up the Growing infant In his arms
The wind blew back Q corner of the
blanket so that the little face peeped
out and Mr.. Splodgett's countenance
grew solemn.
He glngerly picked up one kicking
covered foot between hii
rough thumb and finger and eyed It In
deep surprise. "Lem'me heft him." he
asked.
The baby did not mind the transfea
and lost no time In clutching one fat
iimpled hand IN the grisly whiskera
that tickled his chin.
Smells like new milk" remarked
Mr.. splodgett apolosetically with Q
red face as he raised his head. But
could swear he kissed the little