The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-03-04
His Chum's
B ably
By r. c. kraemer.

four years out west. AS he swung up
the street with his suit case in his
hand, lodging in and out of the
crowds, it occurred to him that about
the first little pleasure he would stake
himself to would be to go out and
drop in on Jim Hudson, his room
mate at the time he left the city And
just couple of months ago he had
learned that Jim had become the dot
ing parent of cute little youngster
that had come to occupy his time
nights.
Huh thought Billy to himself,
it'll be funny enough to see old Jim
all house broke That alone ought to
get a good hand, but to see him carry
fond parent act will get the big
laugh Wonder if he remembers how
he used to roast babies when we used
to room together"
Jim came TO the door and greeted
his old chum warmly. Then he intro
duced him to Mrs. jim. She sized
up as mighty pretty, stylish little
woman, of the jolly, chumwife kind
just the sort of a girl for jim, Billy
thought.
Now, I've got a treat for you"
spoke up jim, suddenly. IF you don't
think we've got about the cutest little
youngster you've laid eyes on for
many month"
He hurried back into their little bed
room and came out with a floridfaced
little bundle that he held up proud,
ly for his old pal to admire and get
all excited over.
Billy laughed He couldn't help it.
His thoughts of the contrast between
Jim's present and former attitude on
the baby proposition would have
brought a grin to the face of gar,
goyle.
Jim frowned What are you laugh,
ing att" he asked, in sort of supe,
rior ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
self tone. Let us all in on the joke"
Somehow, he didn't seem like the
same old Jim. Then his little wife
sort of looked puzzled. too, as if she
Just couldn't figure out how laugh
could possibly doyetafl in just there,
Billy saw that he would have to
hedge. But then what was he going
to say? The baby certainly wasn't
much to look at 1t seemed foolish
TO speak of baby being nice looking,
anyhow, and they all look so nearly
alike at that age
1T er-it seems like a large baby"
stammered Billy 1t looks like
smart I'M, too, for its age. How old
is it, anyway, JIM
After that .ey all became more at
ease. Jim started in to tell of the
baby's fine points of superiority over
other babies
All this didn't interest Billy at all
He hadn't planned on talking baby all
evening, when there was so much
reminiscent stuff to go over. He tried
to switch to something else. Il Won
der whatever became of old man Stew
art, Jim-the fellow that used to live
across the hall from us. who was so
crazy about draw poker?'
Jim shook his head This k.l just
laughs and plays like this all the
time he said. Huh, You ought to
see him when he gets his bath,
though That's what's fun for him"
Billy tried to crank up and get a
fresh start Il suppose those young.
sters that used to live on the floor
beneath us have grown up to be pretty
good siZed boys by this time-bOys or
girls. whichever they were Didn't
they use to make a racket, though ?"
We've never been up with this boy
4 single night" announced jim, more
Or less irreleyently. Well, once or
twice Edith took him over into our
bed when he was a little fretful--he
had little attack Gf collie a month
or 50 ago. | guess any of us are
little peeyish and grouchy when we've
got the tummy ache. eh, Billy"
Billy nodded, and then tried to put
open up different tune-anythiug to
get away from the model progeny
dope
"You ought to have been with me
on my California trip last summer,
lin, says Billy. Il thought of you
many time.
Wen have to stick pretty close to
home for few years until this little
tyke gets a little bigger and huskier,"
says Jim Why, we haven't even been
10 theater since this chap came Of
course, we haven't wanted to. We
have run staying home here and watch
me his little stunts. A youngsterll
do something new every day at his
are tell you what you want to do,
Won want to come out some morning
aud see him get his bath.
Bily said he thought that would be
great But by and by he automatically
excused himself and went back down
town. promising to come back again
soon
don't believe Mr.. Temple cares
much about babies. remarked Mrs.
| lin, after Billy had gone.
oh. moo" admitted Jim apologct-
| ically "mebby not OF course he's
never been around EN- much. Billy's
| a queer sort of fellow, anyhow.
Step in Woman's Advancement.
- al n