The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-06-17
A FREE GIFT
BY GEORGE ELMER COBB

Its nov or never. girl. The train
goes inside ~ ten minutes. It's come.
or loodhy. Now Rachel. decide and
be quick about H."
"oh. Jake ! love you dearly. hut
the baby hcrc7 let me run home with
u aud leave 10 with mistress"
tive said my say. II would delay
me six hours to miss this train"
"But ! can't leave the baby ~ 10 u
was a piece 81 luggage"
yes, you can. Tut She baby on the
rnrk bench beside thst innocent faced
young fellow youdor Ask him to mind
u Tor few minutes. I'll scrihhle Ms
bole1s address On carl slip IL into
the hahy's clothing When you dom
come back he will find H."
"Sut what viii they think 81 NY
abandoning the little dear In this cruel
wayT"
Save your sentiment for me. 10
you've rot any 70 spare"
"And my two weeks wugesf"
rive got plenty Of money. Don't
fret on that score"
Thus Rachel Mine aud Jacob pnl.
ter. the former the average nurse rlrl.
the latter young man who had
worked a. barber when he worked
NJ all. His fashy ways had fasciuai.
81 the comedy maid. he had courtcd
her briefly. but perslstently. and now
with the prospect In view 81 n new and
better situation In another city he put
the question plump Il immediate mar.
riage.
The young man they had indicated
suggested an easy. accommodating Per
son ~ kindly nature. Alvin Stanley
was not much experienced In worldly
ways. He was reasonably fortunate
- to means and position. When the
Ertful Rachel placed the sleeping bate
on the bench beside him and said
please mind the child for a few mo
mentS. will your stanley readily ~,
piled: certainly. Miss" and beam,d
down 40 the serene face Of the Infant.
He treated his involuntary charge
n daintily and carefully as though y
were precious piece ~ fragile bric-a.
hruc. nS az the end 81 five minutes II
awoke. 10 first stared at him steadl
~. then it, little mouth was wreathed
with a seraphlc smile. and then a. h.
cooed 20 u and dangled hts watch be-
fore It's dazzled eyes Il consented 20
remain quiet for few minutes. II
was when IL began 70 whimper that
Stanley grew alarmed. lie picked u
arms. and as It's complaints grew loud
he became decidedly concerned.
II don't see what keeps Its mother
or. nurse. or whoever she Is" he solll
oqulzed uneasily. but In vain he
strained his gaze In the direction the
nurse had gone. for he gained no fur
Their sight Of her. and never would
The baby grew more and more de-
monsirative rs the minutes wore ON.
Stanley took to walking with n. which
somewhat soothed It's hunger and Inn
patience. An hour went by. The babe
began 10 make n violent cutlery. PEG
pie passing him staring. Others indig
nant.
Il can't stand this :" declared Stan
lev. hut what ana ever going %
dor Then he turned cold all over ~
he recalled newspaper stories he hal
read where children had been ahan-
doned to the mercy 81 confdns
strangers. stanley waited another half
an hour. Then he formed n decision.
"T'n take II home" he resolved.
Airs. Morse will know how to care for
Il and tell me what Ia do"
Mrs. Morse had been rock 81 ref
uge ever since his mother had died.
For 30 years n favoriie family servant
he had retained her In service az the
old home. and haillng a taxi he was
soon relieved ~ the strain 81 the oc-
caslon.
She was a moiherly. warm-hear'ed
creature and the Idea ~ baby In the
house seemed 20 brighten M the Old
soul magically. She heard stanley's
story.
Il don't see what YOU can do but adj
vertise. or something Ike" she oh
served.
"Maybe-mayhe We could keep the
little cherubl" timidly suggested Stan
ley. enraptured as the infant. it,
wants attended. clasred his big finger
caressingly In It's little hand
II was an hour later when Mrs
Morse appeared from the impnumptu
nursery established. quite excited:
Il found this card In the little ones
she reported. 1T reads:
Take the child 20 Miss Marcia Dole.
aiO Wayerly place
Instantly Il WIS a second taxi and
IN half an hour stanley found himself
ringing the door bell ~ the place In.
dicated. A servant came 10 the door.
locked pale and~oEifuisi.
Does little child belong here" be.
gan Stanley stumhlinrly.
"oh. Miss Dole quick quick Heres
word about the missing little one.
and a young lady with traces q tears I
IN her eyes hurried 10 the spot. Her /.
rare loneliness made stanley smbar. /
Iuf ~ mann vsH 90 tall hfs