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

which attached 1t to Scattergood.
The cries became more maddening
Scattergood was not hungry, SO 1t die
not occur to him that the infant
might be thinking of food. He dan
died it, he whistled. he sang. he
of his horse and promised to direct
attention to a rabbit or even a deer
in moment, but nothing availed
Precipitation was pouring down Scat
tergood's face. and his expression was
that Of man who devoutly wishes
he were far otherwise than he is.
Half an hour of this seemed tc
Scattergood like the length OF a
sizable day-and then he remembered
the milk. Frantically he fished 1t out
of the basket and thrust it toward the
young person. who did with it wha,
seemed right to him, and. with a
gurgle Of satisfaction. settled down
to business. Scattergood sighed
wiped his forehead and revised his
opinion of folks who were worried a,
the prospect of travel with an infant
+ 4 X
THE rest Of that drive was a night.
mare to Scattergood. When the
baby yelled he was in torment. When
the baby slept he was in torment les,
he wake it, SO that it would com.
mence again to cry. He sweat cold
and he sweat hot, and he wished in
his secret heart and blamed himself
for many things-chief of which was
that he had not brought Mandy along
TO bear the brunt Of the adventure.
Eut at last, long after nightfall
with baby fast asleep, Scattergoot
drove into Coldriver by deserted anf
circuitous roads. He stopped his
| \ -
the village. and, with the baby eau.
tiously hold in his arms. he struck
through back ways and short cuts te
the house where Jed and Martha
Lewis made their home. With metic-
ulous stealth he passed through the
gate, laid the baby on the doorstep
rang the bell long and determinedly
and then, with astonishing quiet and
agility, hid himself in the midst of q
clump of lilacs.
The door opened, and a light shone
through upon the sQuirming bundle
that lay upon the step. A tentative
cry issued from the baby; bass ex.
MY Gawd! Marthy. somebody's left
baby here"
Martha pushed past her husband
and lifted the baby in her arms. She
said no word, but Scattergood coulG
see her press it close. and. in the
could see the expression of her face
1t satisfied him.
What we goin' to do with the dog.
gone thing?" Jed demanded.
Martha pushed past, him into the
house, and he followed. wordless
closing the door after him. Scatter.
good remained for some time, and ther
skunk away.
Postmaster Pratt gave the news Il
Scattergood in the morning.
Somebody went and left baby OF
to Jed Lewis stoop last night" h,
declared "Hain't nobody been abb,
to identify it. Nary a mark nor {
sign on to it no place. Whatever
possessed anybody to leave bah,
there of all places?"
II want to know" exclaimed Scat
tergood. Girl or boy?"
BOY. I'm told"
whats Jed say"
"Hain't sayin' much. Jest sets ant
kind of hangs on to his head. ant
| every once in while he gifts up ant
looks at the baby, and then goes bacl
to holdin' his head"
How about Marthy?"
II can't make out about Marthy. bu
heard her a-singin' this mornin
fore breakfast. Fust time I heart
her, sing for more'n a year"
might "a been singin' to the baby,
Scattergood suggested.
Nav, it was while she was gittin
breakfast. Jest the time she and Jet
Quarrels most powerful"
During the day all Of Coldrive'
called to see the mysterious infant
Nobody could give clue to its idesn
tity, and 1t was decided unanimousi,
that 1t had been brought from a dis
lance. AS to the intentions of the