Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-07-30

Tor mulchlng. 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 Audrey's chocolates,
and crowded the moist little fists and
the little red cavern of the Baby's
mouth full of the luscious tasting NOR
sci. G-r-r-r, they were good Heart o.
Sunshine gurgled appreciatively. 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 conciliate.
''The Baby is a girl" she retorted
stiffiy, land she is not all right if you
have left her alone! The poor little de-
serted Lamb O. Innocence-yes, here's
Auntie, Auntie's 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-
treatingly 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
were 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.
II don't see her-tell me this min
ute where you left that innocent child,
Dick!"
'Dick'-oh, Audrey, that is music
wait minute, wait!" he besought her.
II must have a chance tell you the
little rascal is all right He's enjoying
himself. You will not deny me my last
chance, Audrey?" Something in his
face held her there before him, rosy
and shy. Her hands fiuttercd in his,
but she did not draw them away. For
the space of those few wondrous 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.
ooh, how can / tell?" she murmur.
ed, rebelliously, perhaps well, I
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 wheelbarrowi
| 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 a 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?
ooh, what shall we do! Where can
the darling be-" walled poor Audrey,
| too distracted to remember to re-
proach him.
There, the-ere, don't worry,
darling" he murmured tenderly He's
all right somewhere, depend upon it.
| I've only-er-misplace him."
But in the end he had to confess.
live put my foot in it, he said
humbly; both feet, dear. | dropped
him into the straw, in the wheelbar-
row. 1t was necessary had to do
| it. But it was a nice, soft bed and
there were chocolates enough to
| last
"The wheelbarrow!-Dick! You
didn't" She laughed Historically and
he joined in a deep, mirthless boom.
I'm afraid I did,. dear"
"Then where is that wheelbarrow I?
Tell me quick"
81 can't he groaned; "the gardener
must have wheeled it away"
Then suddenly, in the midst of their
dread, little sound came to them,
and Audrey laughed exultantly.
Through the trees the gardener was
coming toward them with the growing
Baby in his arms! They could see the
small fists and the yellow glimmer Of
the little head. Audrey would have
sprung away to meet them, but Rich
ard held her back.
mo dear" he whispered. tits over.
We're saved! See, he is all right
the little rascal! And l need you this
last minute. You belong to me-"
"But you did not find Baby!" she
laughed softly.
There was time just to take her in
his arms, and to thank the plying
Gods once for befriending him, then to
hurry away to his train-but he came
back again and Used the Baby.
Men drink least in FebruaIy-it has