The Lakeland evening telegram., 1913-10-30

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"You Keep Him 4 Few Days."
own, you'll understand that 1t would
be kind Of hard on us to keep him.
"You keep him for few days un'
til something more is heard abou,
him." said Johnson. Cant you have
the sender traced?"
I'll do my best" said Mr.. Smith
and Johnston rode away.
That night the loneliness Of his
situation appealed to him more than
ever before. He had almost forgot.
ten the faithless young woman who
had been the cause Of his migration
to this half-settled and almost unin.
ha5ited region. He had the normal
human need of companionship-yet
he had no one 70 call his, neither wife
nor parents nor family. He surprised
Mr.. Smith by appearing at the post
office again the next morning.
II think I'll relieve you Of the boy
for few days." he said. 1T might
be companionable-and then. when
you get word of the sender we can
have him shipped back again"
With many directions from good
hearted Mrs. Smith as to the care of
the child, Johnson took him into the
cart and drove away And as the fat,
chubby hand stole into his own John
son felt curious softening Of the
heart and a sense Of strange happi-
ness.
He did not return for several days.
and when he did appear at the post
Office, Mr.. Smith was amazed to hear
the child calling him daddy.
We'll, you see." explained Johnson.
sheepishly. Il came to the conclusion
that l was sort of selfish cuss, liv-
ing all alone, and might as well do
little good in the world. So Johnny
and have sort of struck up a part
nership. He's going to run the home
and I'm going to run the farm, aren't
we. johnny"
"Yeth, daddy" said Johnny, clins-
ing to his new fathers coat.
Ed. Smith turned to his wife when
the cart had rolled away.
81 hate to think of Mr.. Johnson's
feelings when the real father turns
up" he said.
Perhaps he won't turn up" an.
swered his wife. DO you suppose"
mo. no, my dear; it isn't his" her
husband answered. "But it's mighty
queer situation"
The problem was solved a few
days later by the arrival at the post
masters office Of pretty and highly
excited young woman, WEo, inquired
breath!essly for the boy
II got wcrd at Alliance, Ark" she
explained. My dead sisters boy, sent
from Scotland. She was my only rel
ative. You have him here?"
We'll, not here" the postmaster ad-
mitted, rubbing his chin reflectively.
Might your name be Johnson, Miss2'
"Yes, Clarice Johnson"
well, it's odd; but the boy waa
addressed to c. Johnson-that stands
for Charles; and as there's only one
c. johnson around here. | gave him to
him"
Then you must take him away al
once" answered Miss johnson.
We'll. I'll try" the postmaster said
"But Mr.. Johnson kinder took han
kering after him"
But he can't have him." cried thu
young woman. Indignantly "How car
stranger take child away from hii
aunt?"
HE can't" admitted Mr.. Smith
only he's sort of done 1t. However
you wait here, miss, and I'll get MI
Johnson down by telephone inside o
couple of hours
Two hours later Johnson, lookinl
very uncomfortable, arrived with tn
boy. But Johnny absolutely refuses
to go with his new-found relative.
81 guess you'd better spend a day o
two here. MISS" suggested Mrf
Smith. "Then he'll grow sort Of use
to you. and 1t won't be SO hard O.
them"
On them! Miss Johnson suddenl
perceived that Johnson was really tn
most miserable person present.
She accepted Mrs. Smiths hospita
ity. And soon the situation was sci
evident. The child had evidently d.
stroyed the original tag. and In n
writing 1t. the prefix Miss had SOM
how got placed at the end. where
read Mississippi.
But Johnny proved 90 reluctant
leave his new-found father that, lon
before the day or two" was up Johi
son, having ascertained that Mis
Johnson had no ties at Alliance. Arl
made q proposition embracing
But what other sort Of propositio
would one expect at . town mama
Alliancef
tcopynEh. su :. ". O. csapm.aJ