The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-05-26
Shirley Paton's
Adventure
By A. W. PEACH

Shirley Patton. waiting fOr the local
train that would carry hsr 70 her sub
urtan home. found tao persons TO In
,esest her smong the hundreds In the
great sfailnn. One was a tall. clean
featured young msn whose grave eyes
stole q gianoe IN her direction now
and thea glance Of approval 80 I'M
persoBal that Shirley could accept H.
Tfe other vas a tired little mother
at her left who seemed 70 BE- % the
verge of falntlng In her lap she held
a small rosy n0rsel that Uas gurzilng
and coolng. O5liyiOgs to her mothers
distress
Suddenly the little mother turned
and Shirley found herself questioned
-wli you hold my baby uriii | see
about my trainI-
shlriey's first thought was 10 re
fuse. Then she scoided herself; no
mother would ever leave such a win
saGne little witch Of a bate. Shirley
held out her aims
She vas 50 interested IN her new
charge that she dld not think 81 her
young man. When she did glance
up a blush came softly 10 her cheeks;
for " eyes were ever saying anything
RS Wsre saying: You are yery at
frzctiye 20 ne IS you bold that
younEsier 30 materially and ten
Derry
I suppo~e I Do look a BIT mater
nal. and / do love babies. but don't
want TO advertise it, she thought 10
ksrseis.
Busy with THE happy mite, she did
not know the passage OF time until
II cawned upon her that soon her
train would Be leaving She looked
sbo0t snKiOusiy for the mother. but
the tired little figure did not appear.
shIriey's heart thumped Had she
been fooled after ALT Was she here
with a strange babyi What could she
do. She glanced about In her dis
traction. and her eyes met the grave,
fine eyes Of the man opposite. She
saw that he understood. and with a
bit of quake inside she saw him rise
and come toward her,
Pardon me, but | will see II can
find the mother" he said, smiling en-
couragingly.
"Bless his yellow head" Shirley
said to herself. and then thanked him
aloud.
But when he came back after max
Ing a trip through the station, she
saw he was worried. too. He ex-
planned that he could find no trace OF
the mother.
They stared at each other, the same
thought In each mind; what was 70 be
donel
The crimson flooded through his
tanned cheeks as he said haltingly /:
"If you give the youngster TO me, I'll
take him 10 the police station
though hate like thunder to be seen
carrying a baby round here where
some OF my friends may see me"
She laughed at the sudden boyish
exclamation. II understaMl." she
said. Lets see She thought a
moment and a quick decision formed
In her mind. She could not bear the
thought OF the baby's going TO a
police station, and then 10 some found
ling home-such a dainty. fragrant.
happy bit Of humanity! She would
leave word In the station and take
the baby home. She smiled as she
thought OF the dumb astonlshment OF
her family. But how could she ever
get the baby home and also all her
shopping booty2
She glanced at him. He was gaz-
Ing with anxious eyes down the long
lobby. She made up her mind-that
mans frank face was the face to be
trusted
II am going 10 take the baby home.
II you Will help me TO the train" she
suggested. "And We must hurry.
too"
He caught up her bundles quickly
and they tralled away to the gate, she
In the lead. the baby snug In her
arms; he. tall and serene, following
her. Eyes turned TO glance at them.
She blushed, but he seemed imper-
vious.
He saw TO II that she was seated
end then hesltated. You will never
be able TO get OF with your-er-
inpedimenta. May ! go with your /
should like TO see this adventure
through"
She hesltated In turn, then nodded,
thinking TO herself. II really want TO
see little more OF him"
The ride was not eventful In some
ways; but she found herself. as they
talked Of the situation. turning her
eyes from the broad shoulders TO the
gray. protecting honoring eyes quite
"A distance above hers. IL was an nd