The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-02-10
A BABY'S
INFLUENCE
COriginal.1

Them not, for of such is the kingdom
Of heaven" 1, a workin' man, without
much education, wouldn't "a known
what there is in this except for q cir
cumstance I'm go1n' to tell. And l
wouldn't ave known it anyway II I
hadn't been a man as needed somethtn'
to keep me from takiA' a plunge into
the ocean o. ~wickedness that would "a
drawed M under.
1 was the happy husband o. my wife,
Mabel, and the father O. my boy, Tom
my, and was earnin' good wages in a
safe and lock company. One day I was
sent to a bank to tx b safe lock. The
next day a big sum O. money was miss
ed from the safe, and 1 was accused o.
takin' it. They couldn't prove nothin',
out l was discharged, n no other
company would employ me.
When 1 was turned out o. my home
and saw Mabel and the kid starvin' I
grew desperate. Havin' the name Of q
thief, 1 concluded 1 might as well be a
thief. The president and cashier Of the
bank l was suspicioned O. robbin' had
safes in their homes, and the cashiers
I'd put in myself, and it would be
easy openin'. 1 went to the house one
night about 10 o'clock to get b bear
ms, intendin' to rob b safe just be-
fore dawn. While I was standtn' there
a carriage drove up. and a gentleman
and a lady got in. 1 was thinkin' the
cashier and his lady was goIn' out to a
ball or some'rs, and 1 made up my
mind to do the job before they got
back.
1 had no trouble gittin' into the
house, pickin' the kitchen door loci
with IA skeleton key n explor1n' the
main floor. 1 found nobody there. The
gas was turned low In the hall, and as
/ vent up 1 turned it out. I knew
where the safe was, well enough-in a
little room off the main front bedroom.
I skirmished around awhile and made
up my mind there was nobody home
flashed my dark lantern about and
found from the furniture, toys and
such things hat I was in the nursery.
I wasn't long bein' confirmed in this,
for suddenly the light fell plumb on
the face of a sleepin' a
1 knew at once that there was some
body at home with the baby, though 1t
might have been left with the nurse
and she gone out with her Teller. l
was goin' to git out when the baby,
havin' the light in its eyes, opened 'em
and looked about. Fear1n' the child
would cry, 1 made up my mind to a
old stroke to prevent be1n' given
away. l shut the door and turned up
the gas, which was burnin' low. As
soon as the baby's yes got used to the
light it smiled at me
That smile took me pack to M Tom
my at home in his little crib beside his
mother, for my Mabel wouldn't have
nc nurse for her boy even If she had
loads O. money to pay one. I went up
to the little thing and put out my fin
ger. 1t give me the same grip Tom
was used to givin' me. 1t eemed to
me it was a grip O. welcome, and when
it said, "Goo, goo, goo" 1 vas 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 go to
sleep till 1 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 I was
a-goin' to do, and I was hot to escap
from the house without bein' caught.
AS oon as l knew by his breathin' he
was asleep 1 ven on ttptoe to the gas
Jet, turned it low and, openin' the
door
Hands up!" said a man in dressin'
gown and slippers, pointtn' a revolver
at me. I recognized at once the cash.
Ter.
ct haven't opened your safe, Mr.. Ste
vens," 1 said. Your baby saved me-"
81 know you haven't. I've been
watching through the keyhole."
81 made a blunder," I muttered,
crestfallen. IT thought you went out
with Mrs. Stevens"
Luckily there was no one but me
to stay with the baby, and 1 am very
much at home, as you see. Who are
you and what are you doing In my
houseT"
Tn the man as fixed the safe lock
at the bank. l haven't had a job since
and come here .intendin' to help my
self
You that manr' he exclaimed, turn
in sort o. pale.
Eyes, but I didn't take the banks
money"
He hung his head and seemed to be
thinkin'; then he looked up.
81 know you didn't" he said
"You know? How2"
"Come in here"
He took me by the wrist and led me-
back into the nursery and turned up
the light.
my child q saved you. and 1t has
made a man Of me-. Promise me over
this bit of innocence to keep my secret,
and I'll set you right"
IT promise"
when you were working at the lock
I went into the safe and o b mon
~. I needed It to make good my ac-
cor1ufa which wore short I'm all right