The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-10-07
BABIES NOT ALLOWED
~ CATHERINE cooPE.

Copyright, 1sl5, by the Mcclure Newspa-
paper Syndicate.)
Mary Anne turned from the box Of
ice after securing her seat for the
matinee or the following Saturday.
She would have left the foyer and
gone out for the pleasant jaunt
through the shops but for the fact that
her attention was attracted to the
poor little oma who stood forlornly
holding q tiny infant In her arms.
The n had been arguing quietly
with the boxofice man, but to no
avail.
Il an sorry, madam, but infants in
arms are not allowed in the theater.
It is against the laws Of the house"
There was finality In the young
mans voice.
With her usual impulsiveness Mary
Anne approached the woman and
made inquiry.
7 can't go In with I'm and I've
paid my "a in from Bexhill. MY
friends are up there now. They'll be
wondering what's 'appened to me-"
Couldn't / take care OF the baby
while you go up and see the panto-
mime? / have the whole afternoon
free. Do let me-"
the doorway. then turned with her
charge. wondering what her impulsive
nature had got her into this time.
Mary Anne lived in the suburbs,
herself. She remembered the huge
open fires that she had seen in the
Liverpool station when she had come
in the morning to business.
She soon arrived beside the warm
fire without mishap. She had not been
comfortably ensconced there for a pal
try five minutes before the infant
showed most positive signs Of dissatis-
faction with Mary Anne's treatment
of him. He walled softly at first but
persons in the waiting room stared
or, more truthfully, glared at Mary
Anne, while nj OF two men walked
disgustedly out of the station.
The girl was distracted. She
wished she had never wanted to see
Jack and the Beanstalk." She pined
for knowledge of the care of infants
and determined to study up Doctor
Holt without loss Of time. The fact
the baby let slip the bottle his moth
er had given Mary Anne brought a
deep flush to the girls cheeks.
A young man, who had been surrep-
titiously watching Mary Anne's fran
tic efforts to pacify the baby came
over and picked up the fallen bottle
and presented it to her.
"Is there anything I can do for
your" he asked, and he seemed SO
likely t. know more than she did
about infants that Mary Anne smiled
gratefully. There may be a pin stick
ing him-have o looked?"
MOO" said Mary Anne. II didn't
know just where to look"
Great Scott! Who dressed your
baby? Let me have a look?" He took
the baby from Miss Anne's arms very
firmly but gently and Mary Anne
heaved a sigh of relief. The young
man certainly knew how to handle a
baby,
mo doubt you have several of your
OWN" she vouched only half aloud.
"No-not guilty. / am a doctor.
That is why I had the temerity to
offer my assistance. There seems moth
ing wrong with the kiddie. Wouldn't
he take his milk?"
mo" Mary Anne said with a visit
full smile that sent a ave of peculiar
emotion oyer the young man. He
didn't seem to want it."
Maybe you gave it to him too hot"
suggested the doctor.
"Hot! 1t was stone cold" She
gazed fearfully at. the baby.
Gold milk for an infant! You are
a fine mother" the doctor com-
mented.
"But 1 am not his mother" protest
ed Mary Anne with a rush of color to
( her cheeks. II don't know a thing
about babies"
quite unnecessary information"
laughed the doctor, somehow very
much relieved that Mary Anne was
| not the infants mother. He had been
| wondering how so neat and dainty a
| girl could take such wretched care Of
a baby.
Mary Anne told him of her adven-
ture with a shy smile. She marveled
| how the baby had become wonderfully
| contented in the doctors arms.
81 suppose you wouldn't mind show
| ing me the number of your seat for
Saturday." Doctor Cosgrove asked
| tentatively as they went toward the
| theater with the sleeping baby. II have
been intending to see Jack and the
Beanstalk.'"
His guilty expression told Mary
Anne that the pantomime had never
entered his head before.
my seat is No. 14-D," she said
quickly.
Mary Anne blushed holly and Doc
| tor Cosgrove burst into hearty laugh