The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-05-22
Meeting
Mrs. Fleming

Gerber IS DdCneloT. WHEN LIS
bosom friend Fleming suddenly mar
ried a 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
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 matrt-
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.
Fleming's pipe was drawing we'll 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 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 a
fretful murmur from some corner OF
the fiat caught Gerber's ear. Almost
Immediately the fretful murmur be-
came wall.
Gerber, panic-stricken. made one
Jump for his hat. put it on and started
to escape. But a blood-curdling roar
made him turn desperately toward tie
noise.
A baby! Fleming had baby! What
did one do for dying infant and
where was the fool father?
Gerber's knowledge OF babies came
slowly from the comic pictures In the
newspapers. You picked them up and
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 gloved
young woman stood blinking dazedIy
at the interior Of her home.
Gerber surmised that the young
woman was Mrs. Fleming. He was
sure Of 1t when, with flashing eyes.
she demanded: What are you doing
with my baby?"
Gerber stared helplessly. II heard
him crying and thought Id pick him
up" he explained hesitattngly.
"Oh, you thought you'd pick him
up" cried Mrs. Fleming, her mind
one gallery OF newspaper headlines,
pictures OF kldnapers and BLACK
hand" murderers. This dark, olive
skinned. smooth faced tall man. with
the soft SLOUGH hat
For one awful second Mrs. Elem.
1ng's heart stopped beating. Then
with lightning swiftness she was at
the library table and her hand touched
her husbands brand new gun. She
pointed it straight at the head OF the
man.
Put that baby on the couch!" she
ordered.
Gerber obeyed and then opened his
mouth to explain.
Don't move or make sound. Ill
nre II you do" commanded the womr
an with the gun.
Gerber flushed and stood motion.
less.
Fleming found an interesting tableau
on his return. A rigid LYerber, q
deathly pale wife with shining new
gun rigidly poised and sweetly slum'
bering infant.
what the-Mildred! What In
heavens name are you doing with
that gun? Put it down! Tbs Is Ger
Der. Gerber, you know. went out
to call you up to tell you to come
home and meet him. Your mother
said you had just left. stopped in
to get some cigars and"
Gerber began to gurgle something.
Mrs. Fleming gave sudden lurch
and with well! The baby!" crum'
pied up on the library table.
Fleming gave one look az Gerber
and then at the sleeping Infant. Then
he threw up his hands. Gerber,