The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1908-07-18
THE DESERTED
BABY
tcopyrisht)
By LAURAL nINkLsY

. moment
She left In HOLSTERS dazed mind
the confused impression of q pretty,
troubled face, good deal of fair,
huffy hair under big white hat, and
q furry OF skirts down the aisle
that and the undeniable baby on his
knee.
We'll! call that COOL" calculated
HOLSTER, gingerly sustaining the in
FAINT with one hand. as he twisted
round to glare at the car door.
Il hope" said HOLSTER, that your
parent is transacting her affairs ex-
peditiously. happen to know this
train doesn't wait long"
As he spoke. the premonitory culver
passed through floor and seat, and the
car wheels began to grind along the
rails. HOLSTER scanned the disap-
pearing platform; he turned with des-
perate hope toward the car door; and,
as the train swept into its long, pull
sing rush across the country, he said
In his haste several things which the
baby was very fortunately too young
TO understand.
He stopped abruptly as the door
opened; but It was only the burly con-
ductor.
"Say!"' cried HOLSTER. you've left
. woman behind-this child's mother!
Stop the train!"
The conductor advanced TRANQUILITY
down the aisle. Cant stop! We're
40 minutes late now. Telegraph back
from the next station"
What's the next station?" demanded
HOLSTER, angrily. How fart"
Next station, Forestburg. Twenty
three miles,"
HOLSTER gasped and looked blankly
at the baby.
Wife get or" inquired the conduc-
tor, alphabetically.
shes not my wife," said HOLSTER,
Indignantly. II never saw her until she
dumped this baby in my lap Ave min
utes ago"
The trainman grinned unpleasantly.
bet you never see her again! She
amt waitin' for no telegram"
Absurd" cried HOLSTER, in acute
alarm. People don't abandon babies
OISbScu ike tulB one!
Don't they, thought" retorted the
conductor. III you'd seen all I've seen!
Leave any baggage"
How should know" protested
HOLSTER. You might look"
The conductor performed tour Of
inspection.
Mary baggage!" he announced,
cheerfully. "She was a cute one, she
was! Picked you out for a benevo-
lent party likely to adopt the child"
I'm not benevolent party" said
HOLSTER, firmly. III the mother
doesn't turn up. / shall of course,
hand the child over to the-er-the
proper authorities"
The conductor stood beside Hollis
ter's seat and nodded thoughtfully.
All right! Just SO! Pretty kid,
amt she?"
How do you know it's she?" asked
Hollisfer.
Tell by the looks Of 'em mostly.
I've had five Of my own. Well, good
luck! Hope she don't cry!"
II did cross HOLSTERS mind that he
was letting slip the first opportunity
OF shifting his charge, but the train
man. in spite of his five-fold paternity,
did not impress HOLSTER as precisely
the proper authority to deal with the
dainty infant who still chung to his
finger.
Really. mademoiselle, he remarked
in the ensuing solitude deux, you
do seem to be right up against III"
'Ah." said the baby, in soft, vi
vacious. conversational tone, "ba, ba,
v-v-v-v-ba!"
Precisely" returned HOLSTER.
"You touch the exact core Of the sit
uation. Mam-mam has left us!"
The shining brown eyes surveyed
him seriously. Suddenly, with a wide
display Of toothless gums. the baby
laughed.
"Oh, II It strikes you as a laughing
matter!" protested HOLSTER.
Gee, gee, gu" gurgled the baby
ecstatically. It danced its elastic lit
tie body mp and down and made vague,
sociable snatches In the air.
"Yop poor little soul!" HOLSTER
murmured, with an odd tightening Of
the heart which somehow involved q
tightening of his arm around the baby.
And. in all probability cold Charity
would take to her impersonal bosom
this bewitching mite!
HOLSTER adopted the conductors
view. Indeed, the woman's aspect, as
he remembered 1t, seemed suflicient to
inspire any sane man with distrust.
The baby continued broken. inartic-
ulate monologue Of content. and Hol-
lister meditated many things.
The baby sQuirmed, whimpered.
sQuealed. fretted disdainfully at Hol-
listers helpless temporixing. and at
last emitted downright yell
''Oh, don't!" exclaimed HOLSTER.
Don't grille. don't! Somebody'il
hear you'll"
The baby's soft face turned an
angry red: the tender body stiffened
wrathfully: the young voice rose In
credibly in . despairins. indignant
scream.
"Oh. stop! stopi" impIored Hollis
ter. what in the world do people do
with 'em when they Here! Waltz