Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-21

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him" jacobs voice cracked drearily
you told him never to show face
here again. And her; we hated her for
her silly ways and because we were
Jealous. Now they have moved to Chi
cago - SO far away" reminded Rosa
j.. The door opened suddenly to admit
a customer. Jacob retired to light a
lamp over distant counter and pre-.
pared to haggle over gold watch.
Mrs. Hornitz stood before the door
watching the feet on the sidewalk.
Suddenly a bulky object blotted out
the view; there was commot1on on
the stone steps and something bump
ed against the door.
Out of the storm and wet there was
propelled into the shop baby carriage
pushed by shawl shrouded woman.
For what =" Rosa was angrily be-
ginning when the woman interrupted.
please = please to let me have
dollar on it. It's fine carriage, almost
new and ="
Wait" Rosa interrupted in her turn
and lighted a bracket lamp. She ex-
amined the carriage closely. poked its
emrty depths and then nodded assent
While she fumbled in the cash drawer
the Ewoman pushed the carriage into
dusky corner out of the way of pass
ing customer.
The transac tion concluded the wo-
man clutched the dollar bill and the
pawn ticket and vanished into the
night. 60 ~.
Jacob was lighting the remaining
lamps that shone like dim yello" GASES
in the desert gloom OF the shop.
Times Is hard, papa. observed Rosa.
Times is always hard for some
folks" retorted Jacob as ne returned
to his desk.
Times is very bad when lady
pawns her baby carriage Look, papa
fine, handsome carriage, and only
dollar asked
Jacob glanced toward the corner and
nodded. Rosa usually made a good
bargain. He sighed sharply.
Rosa Hornitz knew that he was
thinking of their son, Joey, gone al
most a year. They had not seen joey
since his marriage. Now he was IN
Chicago. where Cousin Lensky had rel
atives, but he had never written. FER
haps Jacobs denunciations still rang
in his ears.
At IL o'clock Rosa, nodd1ng over ner
knitting, lifted her head sharply.
Jacob locking up his books, stared
at her curiosuly
what is it?'' he asked.
"I thought you made cry, papa
she said meekly.
"You would always hear things,
Rosa" he reproved.
A queer little sound came from the
darkest corner of the shop, Feeble,
half strangled cry.
Rosa and Jacob rushed from their
place and met in the middle OF the
shop.
Their eyes questioned each other.
Jacob spoke first. Precipitation bead
ed his forehead: he essayed careless
laugh. 81 am like child = a crazy
one" he confessed. 81 thought twas
little Joey crying. And him = Coo
knows where!' :.
"Ah papa!" walled Rosa. II heard
it, too. It is bad sign and =" She
stopped and listened with tense look
on her round face.
The cry again = louder - distinct
wall.
'.A-a-baby!" Jacob stamped his
foot angril,~ Rosa fool that you are!
There is a baby in the carriage
"Ah, MOI. The lady had no baby The
carriage It was empty - felt in II"
protested Rosa, waddling toward the
corner. Jacob carried lamp and
- IS,X,ord corriooo
"The carriage was empty" repeated
Rosa bending over 1t. Jacob, 1t Is
baby - poor, forgotten one!' Her
arms plunged into the carriage and
brought from under the hood a bundle
wrapped in an old shawl The bundle
wriggled and walled Justify.
"You will take 1t to the police COM
manded Jacob sourlv. What for should
any one wish us bad luck like this?'
The baby suddenly stopped crying
and Graded in Rosa's hungry mother
ly arms, stared up at her with round,
black eyes.
"He should maybe two months old"
remarked Rosa. Such beautiful boy
= see, Jacob. he smiles at you!"
81 see nothing but bad luck, shrug-
ged Jacob peevishly where Is my
umbrella and my goloshes, Rosa?''
What for papa?"
81 go to the police
'In the morning, Jacob = husband
Let me keep him tonight = will take
him tomorrow myself = poor little one
that a mother should pawn her babe
for dollar" she crooned softly
Jacob stamped back to his desk and
looked up his records.
Ticket 13,4s2,' he mumbled. Did