Charlevoix county herald., 1918-12-13

would maintain his steady denial.
What, | asked myself, was to
do?
1T is the wrong store, l think,
madam" he suggested when l did not
speak.
After all. il was combination OF
senhity and childhood which stepped
in 10 save the situation.
There was a stairway leading to the
second floor and the tea room, COM
ing down on the central aisle of the
main floor, where l stood with the
man | had questioned.
Down these stairs as | waited. stri-
wing desperately to find some final ar
gument 10 gain me, my point, there
came small child in gaudy silken
blouse and brooches and a small satin
+ cap.
behind him, shuffling from step to
pearance l gasped. / was sure / had
seen him before.
Hardly had tie partial recognition
filled my thought when the child cried
out gaily.
Taking the last two steps at
bound, he rushed upon me and threw
himself against me, clasping my thigh
with two little, circling arms and smil-
ing up into my face.
Recollection became complete. On
the night before, when Mr. McKabe,
Semi Dual, and the rest of us had
walked down this same street, and
later when Mr.. Glace and had stroll.
ed by while McKabe waited for
Greek Annie TO appear, / had seen
this same old man and this same lit
tie child as / passed.
More, the baby then, as now, had
run out and thrown himself against
me, holding me fast; and had opened
my purse and given him a piece OF
money, and l had spoken TO the 'old
man, who had seemed to be watching
the child.
Now beyond any doubt the little
one seemed to recognize me, TO judge
by the smile on his face.
At the time it seemed to me that l
acted purely on impulse in what
not plan any way to take advantage
of the situation to further my own
cause, because l did not dream that
it could.
But l have always loved children,
and the little midget, with his shining
brown eyes, was in way appealing.
Baby" l exclaimed, stopped, and
lifted him into my arms. why.
whose baby are your"
He laughed and laid a hand on my
face, while the old man paused just
above the foot of the stairs and
watched with a grin on his toothless
mouth.
Him like you velly well, maybe"
he mumbled after moment.
Whose baby is he?" / asked, little
expecting what was to follow.
The old man smiled and, without
noticing a hasty gesture of the little
man who had denied me, answered my
question.
Ooh. him baby b'long Kim Lee.
Kim Lee him papa"
Ii looks could have stricken him
dumb i am sure his tongue would
have ceased right then to wag.
The little man / had questioned at
first shot him a glance which was
black with anger, and burst into
rapid fire of Reech.
The old man listened for a minute,
drew himself up. and waved him to
silence. He turned on me with a ques-
ton.
What FOR you wan see Kim Lee,
maybe? What for you come this
house?"
IL have a message for Kim Lee"
/ told him, despite the frowns of the
man beside me.
The ancient nodded. He came down,
shuffled to my side, and took the baby
from my arms.
Il go look, seer" he suggested. Il
tell Kim Lee maybe so one white lady
want see him. l tell him white lady
what baby velly much like. You
wait"
He turned back to the stairs with
the child in his arms.
| think the man beside me called to
him to STOP for half way up to the
turn o. landing the old nurse paused
and poured out few cultural phrases
in a tone which left nothing to the
imagination.
Then he was gone, and l was left
standing there beside the crestfallen
little dandy, who had been exposed in
the deception he had tried.
| walked over to show case and
began looking at the articles it held.
After a moment my companion took
himself away.
Still, though fate had been kind,
was hardly prepared for what fol-
lowed. Standing there waiting, l was
surprised to hear a soft, resilient step
come down the stairs.
turned to confront the figure of a
very striking man. He was tall. well
built, with excellent head and fea-
lures. His forehead was high and his
nose distinctly bridged, and his lips
firm in repose. Beneath his heavy
brows his eyes were almost black and
piercing.