Gilpin observer., 1912-02-08
Meeting
Mrs. Fleming

Gerber is bachelor. When his
bosom friend Fleming suddenly mar
ried girl unknown to Gerber, mar
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
F,lemings the very first moment he
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 VIII 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 a 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.
Fleming's 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
drug store to telephone. He no sooner
had closed the door behind him than q
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 it on and started
to escape. But blood-curdling roar
made him turn desperately toward the
noise.
A baby! Fleming had baby! What
did one do for dying infant ane
where was the fool father?
Gerbers 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. 1t worked like a charm
Round and round the fiat went Ger
, ber. On the twenty-second round
, just as he swung with graceful strid'
toward the parlor. the door opened
and natty hated, gowned and glovet
young woman stood blinking dazedl.
at the interior of her home.
Gerber surmised that the youni
|, woman was Mrs. Fleming. He wa
sure of it when. with flashing eyes
she demanded: What are you doini
with my baby?"
Gerber stared helplessly. II hear
. him crying and thought I'D pick hin
4 up" he explained hesitatingly.
= "Oh, you thought you'd pick hin
8 up" cried Mrs. Fleming. her min
one gallery OF newspaper headlines
S pictures of kidnapers and "blac
z hand" murderers. This dark, div
y skinned. smooth faced tall man, wit
3 the soft slouch hat
Q For one awful second Mrs. Elem
o ing's heart stopped beating. The
with lightning swiftness she was a
4 the library table and her hand touche
I her husbands brand new gun. Sh
r pointed it straight at the head OF tn
b man.
o Put that baby on the couch!" sh
ordered.
Gerber obeyed and then opened hi
mouth to explain.
J. Don't move or make sound. L
fire II you do" commanded the won
. an with the gun.
y Gerber flushed and stood motion
Q less.
10 Fleming found an interesting tablea
t. on his return. A rigid Gerber,
r deathly pale wife with shining ne
It gun rigidly poised and a sweetly stun
% bering infant.
D. What the-Mildred! What
D. heavens name are you doing wit
. that gun? Put 1t down! This is Ge
l. ber. Gerber, you know. I went o,
% to call you up to tell you to CON
'. homo and meet him. Your motht
IL said YOU had just left stopped
u to get some cigars and"
- Gerber began to gurgle somethin
Mrs. Fleming gave sudden lure
- and with well! The baby!" crur
70 nled IN IN tho library tahle