The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-30
THEIR MUTUAL CHILD" By P. c. .Wodel,onse

to bring fine children into the world. AS Aunt Lora says. she can carry the torch and not faiter."
 "Baiiey! This is positive elequenee"
 "It's got to stop. It's bad enough in her; but every one knows sine is crazy. and makes allowances. But in q young gi,i like you."
 "In a young girl like me-" prompted Ruth in low, tragic voice.
 "It-it's not right. It-it's not proper" He drew a long breath "It's all wrong. It's got to stop"
 "He's perfectly wonderfulv' naurmured Ruth. NHe just opens his mouth and the words come out. But knew he was some body, directly saw him, by his forehead Like dome!
 Bailey mopped the dome. Perhaps you don't know it, he said, "but you're getting yourself talked about. You go about saying perfectly impossible things to people. You won't marry. You have refused nearly every friend I have"
 "Your friends are awful, Bailey. They are all turned out on pattern, like flock of sheep. They bleat. They have all got little, narrow faces without chins or big, fat faces without foreheads. Ugh!'
 Bailey grunted. Ruth came to him and gave him sisterly kiss.
 "Cheer up, Bailey boy," she said. Don't my madness I'll find him sooner or later, and then you'll be glad waited"
 Him? What do you mean?"
 "Why, him, of course. The ideal young man. That's who-or is it whom?-Im waiting for. I mean to marry the finest man in the world and have the greatest little old baby you ever dreamed of. By the way, now remember, told Clarence that"
 Bailey uttered strangled exclamation.
 "It has made you blush! You turned purple We'll, now you know. mean my baby to be the most splendid baby that was ever born. He's going to be strong and straight and clever and handsome, and oh, everything else you can think of. That's why I'm waiting for the ideal young man. If don't find him shall die an old maid. But I shall find him. We may pass each other OH 5th ave. We may sit next each other at theater Wherever it is, shall just reach Tight out and grab him and whisk him away And if he's married already, hell have to get divorce. And I sha'n't care who he is. He may be any one. doA't mind if he's ribbon, clerk or a prize fighter OF policeman or a cab driver, so long as he's the right man."
 Bailey piled the handkerchief on his streaming forehead. "You can't mean thatE'' he cried.
 "I mean every word of it, said Rnth. "I hope, for your sake, he won't turn out to be a waiter or prize-fighter, but it won't make any difference to me-"
 CHAPTER HI.
 TIRK WINFIELD was an snliable, if N rather weak, young man with whom
 life, for twenty-five years, had dealt kindly. He had perfect health, an income more than sufficient fer his needs. a pro- fession which interested without monepoliz- ing him, thoroughly eontented disposi- ton, and the happy knaek of surrouAding himself with friends.
 He liked to be magnet, attracting New York's Bohemian population. If he had his preferences among the impecuniOas crowd who used the studio as a chapel of ease, stroliing in when it pleased them. drinking his whisky, smoking his cigarettes, borrow ing his money, and, on occasions, his spare bedrooms and his paiamas, he never showed it. He was fully as pleasant to Percy Sftankiyn, the elegant. perpetuaIly resting English actor, whom he dislike as far as he was capable of disliking any one, as he was to Hank JaRdine, the prospector. and Hanks prize-fighter friend, Steve Dingie. both of whom he liked enormously.
 Yet, on the afternoon of the day follow ing Mrs. Lora Delane Porter's entry into his life, Kirk sat in the studio. feeling, for the first time in recent years, vague discon- tent. He was uneasy, almost afraid. The slight dislocation in the smooth working machinery of his existence caused by the compulsory retirement of Gerge Pennicut had made him thoroughly uncomfortable.