Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-20
By Clarence Burlington KelIa,d.

, Lewises regarding its disposition.
| they were non-committal. 1t was
universally accepted as fact, however.
that the baby would be sent to an In
stitution.
Thereupon scattersood called upon
What's the town goin' to do about
that baby?" he demanded Tax
payers IL be wantin' to know. Seems
)like the towns liable fir Its support"
been figgerin' OF what steps TO
take"
"Better go across to Jed's and no:
tify EN-" said Scattergood: They'll
be expectin' you to take action
prompt. III go long with you" and
raped at the Lewises' door:
Come on official business" said the
first selectman. pompously. to JED
connected with that there foundlin'.
Martha came hastily into the room
What you want?" she demanded In
a dangerous voice.
Come to tell you we would take
that baby offn your hands and send
it to a institution. Git it ready, and
| We'll take 1t tomorrow"
take that baby! Did you hear
him. Jed Lewis? Did you hear that
away my baby?" She stumbled across
the room to Jed and clutched the
lapels of his coat Scattergood no
ticed with some pleasure that Jed's
arm went automa tically about her
waist: Make 'em git out; Jed. Tell
want we should keep it, don't you
Jed? We wanted one. You know
how we wanted one. You're goin' to
let US keep it, hain't you, jedi"
y \ + Il
led put Martha aside gently and
} walked over to a makeshift crib
| in the corner. where the baby was
asleep, where he stood for moment
looking down at it with a curious
expression. Then he turned sud.
denly, strobe to the door. opened II
and pointed. cit" he said to the
first selectman and Scattergood.
"Jed-Jed-darlin'." Martha cried
| and as Scattergood passed out he saw
from the corner of his eye that she
was sobbing on her husbands hick.
ory shirt and that he was patting hei
back with awkward gentleness.
Looked a mite like Jed wanted
we should CO." said Scattergood.
"I'1l have the law on him. He'll be
showed that he can't stand up to the
. first selectman Of this here town
| I'll"
You'll go home and set down in
the shade and cool or" said Scatter
good, merrily, land while you're
| a-coolin' you might sort Of thank
Gawd that there's SIGH things as
human beins with human feelin's, and
| that there's sich things as babies
| that sometimes gifts themselves left
on the right doorsteps. G'by, select.
man. Gby"
A week later Scattergood was pass.
ing the Lewis home early in the
! evening. In the side yard was a ham.
mock under the trees which had been
unoccupied this year past, but to-
night 1t was occupied again. Martha
was there with the baby against hey
| breast, and Jed was there. his arm
tightly about his wife, and one OF
the baby's hands lying on his cal.
| loused palm. AS Scattergood watched
| he saw Jed bend clumsily and kiss
/ the tiny fngers-and Martha turned
trife and smiled up into her hus.
! bands eyes.
| Scattergood passed on. blinking
| perhaps because dust had gotten ir
/ his eyes. He stopped at the posi-
office and spoke to Postmaster Pratt
i"Call to mind my speakin' Of soothin
1 syrup and Jed Lewis and his wife,
he asked.
Seems like I mind it, Scattergood.'
| Jest walk past their house. post.
master; caieiate You'll .s see fg lettn
there with Jed in the hammick. and
they're holdin' on their lap the
doggondest soothin' syrup FIR man and
wife that any doctor c'u'd prescribe
| Calc'late it's one of them natures
remedies. Go take look, postmaster
Gby."
Copyright. 1921. by Harper 4 Bros)