South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-18
THE CRISIS OF THE NEXT-DOOR
NEIGHBOURS BABY AND
WHAT 1T REVEALED.


pitiful 20 witness as the suffering Of
a baby.
We all realized this when the
maid from the apartment across the
hall from mine rushed. into my liv-
ing room. holding in her arms a
tiny baby rigid and blue as if it
were already dead.
is the baby dead" she gasped.
her face convulsed with grief and
fear. My madam is at the theater.
and the baby has been fretty for
two hours. and just a minute ago he
stiffened out like this Oh, dearl
oh. dear" she began TO sob.
stop that Lillian Gales voice
rang out like a trumpet The baby
is not dead II is in a CONFUSION.
Give it 10 me and run back TO your
apartment and bring me some warm
blankets"
OF the six people at our little
chahng dish supper. so suddenly in
terrupted. she was the only one who
knew what 20 do. l had been able
TO quiet Mrs. Testers hysteria by
telling her at once that the baby
was not her own, as she had so
widely imagined, but was helpless
before the babys danger.
Lillians orders came thick and
fast.
Mrs. Graham, quick, get the
wash boiler, a foot bath ything
big enough to put this ba1y IN. Put
some hot water in il and bring it
here. with some dry mustard.
Dicky. Harry, Frank, one of you
phone for a doctor. Daisy, stop
crying and help me here"
AS she spoke she had taken the
baby from the maid and was deity
undressing the tiny rigid body
1 rushed TO the kitchen. to find
Katie already filling a foot bath, a
relic Of my boarding house days.
with hot water.
4 hear. Missis Graham. / tink l
got it ready queeck," she said as
she worked
THAT was splendid, Katie" | an
swered gratefully. snatching the
mustard from its shelf and hurry
ing back followed by Katie bearing
the tub.
Daisy, take the baby a minute"
Mrs Underwood laid the unconsci-
Gus infant in Mrs Testers trem-
blirg arms and, pushing up her
loose sleeve TO the shoulder, plunged
ner elbow into the water.
Just right she commented.
Here" she held out her hand for
the mustard. ] handed il TO her
and she shook a liberal portion into
the water.
Stir that around SO that il will
dissolve" she said. AS 1 did so she
took the baby from Mrs. Lester's
arms and, kneeling, immersed the
little body in the hot water
Hold him while / rub him" she
said 10 me. I obeyed her. but as |
took the baby in my arms she no.
ticed my face. L had never held a
baby in my life. and / was afraid !
might droD or injure it.
You cant hurt him." she said
encouragingly. There, One hand
under his back; that's right"
Katie" She was rubbing the
tiny limbs vigorously yet tenderly,
as she spoke.
Yes, Missis Underwood" Katie
washed forward. eager, alert to help.
Bring me a wooden blanket. We
can't wait for that idiot"
"Au right" Katie dashed for my
bedroom door, but the appearance
Of the maid laden with blankets
stopped her. She came back and,
snatching a blanket from the other
girl. held it ready for Mrs. Under
woods need.
Put it on the steam pipe, Katie. -
Mrs. Underwood looked up an in
slant and smiled at the girl-"and
stand right by it, ready to hand il
10 me when l tell YOU"
She kept up her rubbing, while !
held the baby, afraid even To
breathe. The maid had fallen on her
knees and was praying silently. Mrs
Lester, her face showing her strug-
gle between her desire 10 help and
her longing TO rush home TO her
own baby, was beside US. Katie
stood like a sentinel at the steam
pipe. Dicky was at the telephone,
where 1 could hear him trying Ia
get the number OF physician in the
next block. Mr.. Lester and Mr.
Underwood stood helplessly near
him.
There" Lillian's voice. in its re-
lief, betrayed the anxiety she had
felt, hes coming out of il.
/ could detect no movement OF
the little body, and I looked inquir-
ingiy at her.
His eyelids are twitching," she
said in answer TO my look
Even as she spoke the limbs re-
| Taxed, the terrible blue look faded
from the little face and the baby
gasped his way back to life.
Quick, Katie, the blanket. Hold
! the warm side toward me-"
Katie rushed forward, obeying di-
irections like a soldier. As She
reached Mrs. UnderwoOd's side Lii
liam lifted the baby out Of the water
and laying it dripping, as il was. on
the warm blanket, wrapped che
wooden folds about il, and, sitting
down in the nearest chair, laid the
baby fat on her lap. looking anxi-
ously into the tiny face.
If you have a hot water bag. Mrs