Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-03-16
What Professor
Wanted
-
BY WINIFRED DUNBAR.

81 don't know what can be the
matter with me, Miss Johnson" said
Professor Barry to his h~Ousekeeper
as she handed him his morning cot
fee. IL think l must be growing
old"
"Oh, come, professor, you old at
forty-fve! !" replied Miss Johnson,
laughing. what you want is to get
married"
Get married." repeated the profess
sor absently, as though the idea had
never occurred to him. "Why, who
would want to marry an old fogy like
me?'
"Some might" retorted Miss John
son, tossing her head,
Miss Johnson came every day to at
tend to the professors needs. He was
instructor in Latin at the college;
Miss Elizabeth Johnson was the
daughter of a fellow professor who had
died impoverished. Miss Johnson
might have been ~thirty-five.
IF 1 ever get married." unused the
professor, as he wandered in the di-
rection of the town, 81 should want a
wife with light brown hair, blue eyes,
and-why, bless me-"
He blushed as he hurried along the
street, for it had suddenly occurred
to him that he was describing Miss
Johnson.
"But l didn't mean anything, 1 as
sure yOu," he explained absently to
himself.
"Please don't mention It," said a
pleasant female voice in his ear, and
the professor started in surprise, to
see that he was looking into the face
of a comedy young woman who carried
a baby.
81 assure you no harm has been
DONE" she said. $50 If you will kindly
hold my little girl a minute,
everything Will come out all right"
And she thrust a blinking bundle into
his arms.
"Now l wonder what it was that l
did," suggested the professor to him
self, but there was no answer forth
coming.
"Hush, hush, baby" implored the
professor, dandling the infant. go to
sleep like a good boy-I mean girl.
Mother will come by and by"
Apparently this prospect did not act
as a soothing incentive, for the baby
began to howl. A small boy jeered
at him.
saw, take him home" suggested a
ribald spectator. "Where did you get
it?"
Hes stolen it," suggested another
woman.
"Kidnaper," yelled another woman
and promptly tainted.
Hes Black Dan, the thousand-dol-
lar child-stealer," somebody yelled,
and those on the outskirts of the
crowd set up a yell Of rage and surget
forward toward the victim.
Happily at this juncture a policeman
came pushing through the crowd.
"What's all thisT' he demanded.
"Hey, there. Whose child is that?"
ut belongs to a woman" stammered
Professor Barry. 81 don't know her."
"He's stolen It," shrieked an irate
lady as she broke her umbrella upon
the professors hat.
"Gimme the child" said the police
man, taking the screaming and fright
ened baby from the professors arms.
Certainly" said the professor cor
daily, divesting himself of his bur-
den happily and turning to dodge out
of the crowd.
"Hey, where are you going?" cried
the policeman. you're coming with
me. It's going to be a cell for you."
"But a woman gave it to me-" plead
ed Professor Barry dlsmally.
"Tell that to the Judge. Are you
coming quietly, or
Miss Johnson appeared at the police
mans side.
tits all right" she said, smiling.
Just a mistake, Frank. This is Pro-
fessor Barry Of whom I have often told
you"
"Then what's he doing with a
strange baby, miss?" inquired the pO-
liceman obviously.
"Why, you foolish man, it isn't a
strange baby, it's your baby" said
Miss Johnson, smiling. Don't you
know your own chlld?"
"My Bessie !" exclaimed the police
man. where's my Polly and why
isn't she here?"
AS he looked round h~elplessly a
young woman struggled through the
crowd and snatched the child hysteri-
cally from Miss Johnson's arms, kiss
ing and murmuring over it.
MY baby" she cried. 81 left her
with the saleswoman, Frank, and she
gave her to the wrong m Thank
God, I've found her"
"There you see the explanation"
said Miss Johnson. 1.-THE woman
couldn't resist taking her, and then
she was afraid to restore her, so she
gave her to Professor Barry because
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