The Detroit times., 1916-06-08

waen she had TO be lifted. or--wh!
the place might get aire and tn
baby be burned while a dtsintereste'
person was busy saving her owl
skin. Any number OF things coulC
happen in few hours"
Paula gave contemptuous littl'
snort. Eyes, any Of those thing'
could happen" she agreed. ALSO
any time I'm sitting right beside her
the ceiling might cave in on her IN,
floor 20 down beneath her, or q bui
let from some lunattc's gun come
through the winCow anG hit her
Have you ever thought OF all those
terrible thlngs?" And so saving
Paula swent into her bedroom and
slammed he door
ser she had heard Ned leave FOR
| his ofice she came out and went
about the little apartment putting
things 20 rights in the half hearted
way that had grown upon her OF late
her nerves alert the while for the
| baby's cry. She was ashamed OF
her display OF temper and sorry that
she had let Ned 80 without even
stod-by: but throughout the morn
ing she was conscious OF a growing
resentment against Ned, the baby,
and the world in general-parlcu-
larry against the baby.
Nor had her resentment aoated
when, little before noon. her friend
Clara Bankmsn arrived in a new
electric and asked Paula TO lunch
with her downtown.
81 can't" Paula declined. YEARLY.
I'D love to, but as usual, can't.
There's the baby"
Bring II along" cheerfully invited
Clara, who knew as much concern
ing babies as a bachelor uncle.
Paula shook her head. she can't
even sit up yet"
We'll. can't you leave her for a
little while!" asked Clara Good.
ness, Paula, the way you let that
baby tie you down 10 q perfect
shame. Where is II now? Asleep"
Paula nodded. She's just had her
bottle and she always sleeps at
least two hours afterward."
well. then. why can't you come
alor g." demanded Clara. You could
easily be back inside of two hours.
Will you come II promise to have
you back here before the baby
wakesf"
And Paula, hungry for pleasure,
allowed herself TO be persuaded. Her
conscience troubled her as she softly
closed the door Of her apartment
and followed Clara into the elevator
Ned's words. ANY number OF things
could happen In few hours" came
back to her, and for a moment she
decided TO forego her pleasure and
return. She put her hand on Clsrs's
arm, intending to, tell her so.
but Clara was chatting gsyly
OF her new electric and did
not heed. Paula wavered and
was lost. After all. why not go?
IOf course nothing would hap
pen. and Ned need never know. She
had so few pleasures; why not take
what opportunity offer I'd Once out
In the sunlight she quelled the muir
murings of her conscience and en-
tered into the escapade with all zest.
ITS a shame I've kept you so
long Clara was spologizing three
hours later, as they started for
home. Il had so much TO tell you.
diGn't realize how time was flying.
Neither did l." said Paula guilty
Il hope the baby hasn't been crying
long," she added anxioGsly.
"Oh, she'll be all right" began
Clara. but stopped suddenly to get
the electric nearer the curb as a fire
engine dashed noisily past
Paula clutched her friend trantical
/ ly and pointed ahead. Look
Smoke" More fire engines plunged
! by, drowning her voice In the din
Brace up" said Clara. kindly 1T
cant be your place"
Bat a sick dread clutched a
/ Paula neart Go faster" she said
through wkite lips, and Clara tried
To urse the little car TO greater speed
but with difficulty. The usual audi
ence was gathering 10 witness th'
fire. and the street had suddenly be
come crowded with scurryinI
throng. a moment later the cOnges
ton brought them to a complet'
halt.
Paula sprang out Where is IT.
fire >" she cried cXcitedly TO police
man.
Two blocks up-big apartment
building a. Fifty-lrst anu Beach
With a cry Of terror. Paula Jegsl
10 fight her way through tie crowd
and ~ sight OF her white face ant
agUnized eyes the thong parted I,
let her pass MY baby, my uttl
baby her heart Kept moaning A
she struggled on. Now she knew
that she loved her baby more tina
all the world
Its too late 90 save anything
she heard a man, evidently retuinin
fr)ri the FIRE, saying They didn
discover the outbreak in time &
send in a quick alarm. ana the ar
departments simply trying TO pre-
vent it's spread TO nearby buildings
Luckily, no one was H. the place
The awful significance OF hi