Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-20

more. I got a special reason. II you
was to go this mornin' it 'u'd upset
my plans. After Sattidy you kin do
as you like, and maybe it's best you
tshould part. But do wisht you could
see your way to stayin' till Sattidy.
II don't see why, Mr.. Baines. but
il it'll be any good to you. I'll do 1t.
But not minute after Sattidy-now
| mind that"
Much .bleeged. Marthy. G'by.
Marthy. G'by,"
On Friday Scattergood was invisi-
started away before dawn, driving his
sway-backed horse over the mountain
roads to the southwark. He notified
nobody of his going, unless 1t was
Mandy. his wife. and even to her he
cid not make apparent his errand.
| X X X
before noon he was Mn Bailey and
- stopping before the small white
house in which Mrs. Patterson man.
aged by ingenuity to fit in husband,
| a mother-in-law. an aged father.
seven children Of her own. the Conroy
orphan and a constantly. changing
| number of cats. Nobody could have
done it but Mrs. Patterson. The house
| resembled one of those puzzle boxes
containing number of curiosity
sawn pieces of wood. which. once re-
| moved. can be returned and fitted in
place again only by some one who
knows the secret.
| Scattergood entered the house, re-
malned upward of an hour. and then
! reappeared, followed by Mrs. Patter-
son, seven children. an old man and
an old woman-and in his arms was a
| baby whose lungs gave promise of
healthy manhood.
| DO this much does he?" Scatter
good asked. uneasily.
Not more'n most" said Mrs. Pat
terson.
I'm! If he let's on to be hungry.
what's the best thing to feed him up
on? I got bag of douehnuts and
five-six sandwiches and nigh unto half
| a apple pie in the buggy"
Feed him them" said Mrs Patter-
! son, land you'll be like to hear some
real yellin'. What he's doin' now
| hain't nothin' but his objectin to
you carryin' him like he was horse
blanket. You wait right there till I
! some sugar in a rag that you kin put
| into his mouth if he acts uneasy. It'll
quiet him right on
Much 'bleeged. Hain't had much
| well start now. Bet we n this here
| one gifts. we'll acquainted fore we
reach Coldriver."
"Twouldn't sprise me mite" re-
piled Mrs. Patterson, with something
| that might have been twinkle in her
go along with you"
"G'by, Mrs, Patterson" said Scat
| tergood. hastily, and he climbed into
his buggy clumsily. placing the baby
| on the seat beside him, and holding it
| in place with his left arm. "G'by."
The buggy ratified off. The baby
! hushed suddenly and began to look at
| the horse.
Kind of come to your senses. eh?"
said Scattergood. Now, you and mes
your mouth shet. If you behave your
self proper l dunno but what I kin
| find a stick of candy FIR you when
we git there"
Presently Scattergood looked down
to find the baby asleep. He drove
| what commands he felt were indis-
pensable to his horse. This delight
| full situation continued for upward
| of two hours, and Scattergood said to
himself that folks who bothered about
travelling with infants must be very
| easily worried.
Jest as soon ride with this one
clean to the Pacific coast" he said.
And then the baby awoke. 1t
! blinked and looked about it; it rubbed
IScattergood; it opened its mouth
tentatively, closed it again. and then
and then it uttered such an ear
piercing, long-drawn shrek that the
old horse jumped with fright.
! "Hey, there"' said the startled Scat
| tergood. Hey! What's ailin you
now?"
The baby closed his eyes, clenched
his fists, kicked out with his legs,
and gave himself up whole-heartedly
| to the exercise Of his voice.
| "Quit that" said Scattergood. Nov
listen here; that hain't no way to be.
have. You won't git that candy"
Louder and moro piercing arose the
baby's cries. Scattergood dropped the
reins, lifted the baby to his knee, and
| jounced it up and down furiously, per-
forming an act which he imagined to
be singing, a thing he had heard was
| interesting and soothing to babies.
It did not even attract this ones at
tention.
said. What in tunket was it that
woman said sh'u'd do? Hain't they
no way of shuttin' him off? Look-ee
here, young Teller, you Jest quit 1t.
Bling, here's my watch. You kin
| listen to 1t tick"
| The baby tried the watch on his
| toothless gums, found it not to his
taste, and flung it from him with
| such yehemence that 1t would have
| suffered permanent injury but for the
size and strength of the silver chain