The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-01-02
Meeting
Mrs. Fleming

Gerb n 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
Flemings 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 anC
would instantly recognize him, ever
though VIII had no picture Of his
chum to show her.
Time went on regardless of matri
mony and friendship. The business II
Shanghai proved long drawn out
When a year and half had passed
Fleming had ceased talking about his
boyhood days and Gerber's arrtva
was mislaid hope. Fleming put IL
all his spare time amusing William
Fleming, Jr.
On the memorable night that Mrs
Fleming was called away to hel
mothers, at the other end OF the city
Fleming was alone with his son anC
heir, his pipe and papers and mem
cries.
TIE son and heir went to sleep
Fleming's pipe was drawing well anC
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 or
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 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 and
walked with them.
Gerber tried this with shaking
hands. It worked like charm
Round and round the fiat went Ger
Der. On the twentysecond round
just as he swung with graceful stride
toward the parlor, the door opened
and natty hated, gowned and gloved
young woman stood blinking dazedly
at the interior of her home.
Gerber surmised that the young
woman was Mrs. Fleming. He was
sure of it when, with flashing eyes,
she demanded: What are you doing
with my baby?"
Gerber stared helplessly. II heard
him crying and thought I'd pick him
up" he explained hesitatingly.
"Oh, you thought you'd pick him
up" cried Mrs. Fleming, her mind
one gallery OF newspaper headlines,
pictures OF kidnapers and BLACK
hand" murderers. This dark, olive
skinned, smooth faced tall man, with
the soft SLOUGH hat
For one awful second Mrs. Elem.
ing'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 a sound. III
fire if you do" commanded the WON
an with the gun.
Gerber flushed and stood motion
less.
Fleming found an interesting tableau
on his return. A rigid Gerber, a
deathly pale wife with a shining new
gun rigidly poised and sweetly stun.
bering infant
What the-Mildred! What in
heavens name are you doing with
that gun? Put it down! This 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. l stopped in
to get some cigars and"
Gerber began to gurgle something.
Mrs. Fleming gave sudden lurch
and with We'll! The baby!" crum.
pied up on the library table.
Fleming gave one look at Gerber
and then at the sleeping infant. Then
he threw up his hands. Gerber, |
clean forgot the kid" he cried.
0Vnp HaIf-EnnturU