The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-02-06

were nxed on the little purple face
crushed against Audrey's breast. A
look of alarm dawned in them. He
tried to introduce into it the tender
ness that he knew would count.
Great heavens, look at the chid's
face, Audrey" he exclaimed. What
makes it so red? Wait; | know. It
wants water. Babies require frequent
-er-watering-in hot weather" He
stood before her, peering down at the
baby Have you given it water late
ly?" he demanded sternly. The doc
tors say the mortality of babies in
the summer is due"
Quick! get her q drink! Are you
going to stand there and see q bles
sed little child perish-before your
eyes.
She sped away with a soft swirl OF
dainty skirts, and his heart went with
her. But he called it back and steel
ed it. There was work to be done, and
quickly. No time for conscience now
Carefully laying the baby down. he put
his hands to his lips like a trumpet
"Audrey-Miss Audrey he called.
and hailed the little flying figure.
Well, what is it? Quick" came
family back.
Warm it-wa-arm it. Cold water
wont dooo," For he needed time
Picking up the baby, he clutched the
dimity bundle firmly at arms length
casting about for the right hiding
place.
Down yonder, there in the middle OF
che of the paths, the gardener had left
his wheelbarrow loaded with straw
for mulching The Big Man darted
toward it and thrust the Baby into the
fragrant, yielding mass-in, in, out OF
sight. At the last moment he be
thought him of Audreys chocolates,
and crowded the moist little fists and
the little red cavern of the Baby's
mouth full of the misunderstanding NOR
sci. G-r-r-r. they We're good. Heart o
Sunshine gurgled approximately. Then
he drew the thin cover of straw across
his victim and was off. sauntering neg
ligently up the path He met Audrey
half way. She had cup OF water in
her hand.
What have you done with-the
Baby" she pulled Where's the Baby,
Richard Taft"
"Er-the what? Oh, the Baby? He's
all right back there waving over his
shoulder indefinitely. Let me take the
cup, Miss Audrey He was guilty.
anxious to concliate.
The Baby is girl" she retorted
stiti1y, and she is not all right il you
have left her alone! The poor little de.
serted Lamb y lnnocence-yes here's
Auntie, Aunties coming sweet" And
she was gliding swiftly away from
him. He could only follow, but sud
den fear for the success of his ruse
had engulfed his soul. He hurriedly
overlook her and laid his hand en-
tveatingly on her sleeve.
Audrey, wait-for the Lords sake
give me just a minute! There is some
thing | must say, dear"
She was not listening Her eyes
We're searching for the CLEAN of lit
tie white slip against the green OF
the shrubbery. When they failed to
find it she turned upon him denounc-
ingly.
Il don't see her--tell me this min
ute where you left that innocent child.
Dick"
Dick'-oh, Audrey. that is music
wait minute, watt" he besought her
II must have a chance tell you the
10 10, oil toll "a, mic I'M
himself. You will not deny me my last
chance, Audrey?' Something in his
face held her there before him, rosy
and shy. Her hands tuttered in his,
but she did not draw them away For
the space of those few wonArous min
utes, did she forget the Baby, too?
And-you will, Audrey? am waiting
for my answer, dear"
She tried to meet the look in his
eyes, and woman-like. because she
could not, she sought refuge in mis-
chief.
"Oh, how can | tell?" she murmur-
ed, rebelliously, perhaps well, /
might, if-if-well. if you-if you
found the Baby-Dick!"
She remembered the Baby then, at
any rate, and in sudden conjunction
darted away to find her He went, too,
his fate hanging on the issue of the
hunt. But he was not afraid. Straw Is
easy enough to breathe through, and
there were a good many chocolates
1t was not far down the path to-gods
and men, where was the wheelbarrow,
There wasn't any. Nor north nor south.
nor east nor west. The pretty grounds
stretched away on all sides of him,
wheelbarrowless
Richard Taft uttered sharp excla-
nation Of horror. What did this mean?
Had the 'pitying gods" taken him at
his word and wheeled the little limo
cent to Salem, or Boston, or Lynn?
oh, what shall we do! Where can
the darling bel" walled poor Audrey,
too distracted to remember TO re-
proaCh him.
There, the-ere, don't worry.
darling" he murmured tenderly. Hes
all right somewhere depend upon Ii.
I've misplaced him
but in the end he had to confess
1--WE put my foot in it," he said
humbly; both feet, dear. | dropped
him into the straw, in the wheelbar-
row II WAS necessary had tD do