The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1912-02-22
Meeting
Mrs. Fleming

ried without the slightest preliminary
warning, Gerber felt hurt. he was
in Shanghai when the news reached
him. Smothering his feelings, he ca
bled his congratulations. Then he
wrote, promising to drop In on the
Flemings the very first moment ne
landed in Chicago.
Mrs. Fleming was anxious to know
Gerber. She had heard all about the
old school days, the tricks, the sum-
mer evening larks, the swimming hole
and the pasture lot athletics. She
felt as though she knew Gerber and
would instantly recognize him, even
though Will had no picture OF his
chum to show her.
Time went on regardless OF matri
mony and friendship. The business In
Shanghai proved long drawn out.
When a year and half had passed
Fleming had ceased talking about his
boyhood days and Gerber's arrival
was a mislaid hope. Fleming put In
all his spare time amusing William
Fleming, Jr.
On the memorable night that Mrs.
Fleming was called away to her
mothers. at the other end OF the city,
Fleming was alone with his son and
heir, his pipe and papers and mem
cries.
The son and heir went to sleep.
Jennings pipe was drawing well and
the memories slowly crept out OF the
years. 1t was just then that Gerber
walked In.
The two old friends SKINNED briefly
over the main events Of their history
and Gerber was about to begin on
his oriental experience when Fleming
interrupted him.
Just hold on a minute. I'll tele
phone Mildred that you are here
She's perfectly crazy to know you"
Fleming started for the nearest
had closed the door behind him than 9
fretful murmur from some corner OF
the fiat caught Gerber's ear. Almost
Immediately the fretful murmur be
came a wall.
Gerber, panic-stricken, made one
jump for his hat, put 1t on and started
to escape. But blood-curdling roal
made him turn desperately toward the
noise.
A baby! Fleming had baby! What
did one do for a dying infant anC
where was the fool father?
Gerber's knowledge of babies came
slowly from the comic pictures in the
newspapers. You picked them up ant
walked with them.
Gerber tried this with shaking
hands. It worked like charm
Round and round the fiat went Ger
Der. On the twenty-second round
Just as he swung with graceful stride
toward the parlor. the door opened
and a natty hated, gowned and gloveC
young woman stood blinking dazedl!
at the interior Of her home.
Gerber surmised that the young
woman was Mrs. Fleming. He wal
sure of 1t when, with flashing eyes
she demanded: What are you doinl
with my baby?"
Gerber stared helplessly. II heart
him crying and thought I'd pick hin
up" he explained hesitatingly.
"Oh, you thought you'd pick hin
up" cried Mrs. Fleming, her mine
one gallery of newspaper headlines
pictures of kidnapers and "blacl
hand" murderers. This dark, DIV,
skinned, smooth faced tall man, witt
the soft SLOUGH hat
For one awful second Mrs. Elem
ing's heart stopped beating. Thel
with lightning swiftness she was a
the library table and her hand touche,
her husbands brand new gun. Sh
pointed it straight at the head OF tn
man.
PUT that baby on the couch!" sh
ordered.
Gerber obeyed and then opened hi
mouth to explain.
Don't move or make a sound. II
fire II you dol" commanded the WON
an with the gun.
Gerber flushed and stood motion
less.
Fleming found an interesting tablea'
on his return. A rigid Gerber,
deathly pale wife with shining ney
gun rigidly poised and sweetly Stun
bering infant.
what the-Mildred! What 4
] heavens name are you doing wit
. that gun? Put 1t down! This is Gel
Der. Gerber, you know. l went on
to call you up to tell you to com
home and meet him. Your mothe
said you had Just left. I stopped 4
to get some cigars and"
Gerber began to gurgle something
Mrs. Fleming gave a sudden lure
and with well! The baby!" crun
pied up on the library table.
Fleming gave one look at Gerbe
and then at the sleeping infant. The
he threw up his hands. Gerber,
clean forgot the kid" he cried.
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