New Britain herald., 1926-06-22
Lelp it." Peter groaned.
 For a full year he kept that

minute she left him.
 Wrapped in her own dark thoughts about Fanny, she ran up the stairs to The Nest.
 Mrs. Pigeon, with a faded red shawl around her shoulders. met her at the door. Her plump old face was creased with worry.
 "The baby's been real sick since you left, Mis- Phelps" she said, and Sylvias heart semed to stop.
 She gave the old woman one wild look and rushed into the tiny room where the baby slept. His little face, always so waXen white, was flushed now with a high fever. His breath vas coming short mad quick.
 Sylvia flew to the telephone and called first Dr. Buzzard and then Aunt Agony She rushed into the bathroom and turned on the hot water in the tub. She took a pair of wooden blankets out of the linen clset and laid them over the sizzling radiator.
 When pr. Ruzzard arrived at The Nest, thirty minutes later, she had give Junior a steaming bath, and his fever was not so high as it had been. But he was out of his head, and he whimpered in voice like q sick little animals cry. The very sound of it was torture to Sylvia.
 She blamed herself for going away and leaving him for three hours. Queer, that feeling she had had that she shouldn't leave him.
 "Nonsense!" Dr. Buzzard snapped out at her when she began to re- proach herself for leaving the baby. "Children get these levers in a min ute and get over them just as quick ly. A tooth may cause a fever, but in Juniors case l think it's just q cold on his chest Not much of cold, either"
 He closed his bag. picked his hat up from d chair and started for the door, but Sylvia wouldn't let him go.
 She clung to him and begged him 10 stay until Aunt Agony got there, for Mrs. Pigeon had gone downstairs 10 her basement, and Sylvia was afraid 10 be left alone with the sick baby. The loud, rough sound of his breathing frightened her and she watched his heaying little chest with wide, terrified eyes.
 q know he's going 10 die. I know my little baby's going to die" she moaned, burying her face in the ola doctors sleeve.
 He patted her shoulder and told her that Junior was in no danger at all. as if he were trying to soothe a frightened child.
 When Aunt Agony finally arrived she brought a whole caravan load Of sickroom supplies with her. The taxi driver came toiling upstairs carrying a quilt, a large rubber sheet two hot water bottles, first aid kit. and an old doctor book that had belonged to Grandma Starr.
 Sylvia yividly remembered that doctor book. If had been one of the horrors of her childhood. Whenever she had had an ache or a pain, Aunt Agony had taken down the doctor book" and then administer ed castor oil in large quantities.
 "Now. Agony. don't start giving that child medicine" said Dr. Bug gard. cycling tho doctor book" with dislike and distrust. He had known Agony Starr for thirty years, and he knew her failings.
 Have you given him any castor oil? 2" demanded Aunt Agony, with a war-like look. She tossed her head so that all the little jet flowers on her hat danced wildly.
 "No, and he doesn't need any, either" Dr. Buzzard came back al her. He needs just what he's get ting-a good rleep."
 Aunt Agony opened her black silk the bottle of castor oil she had just bought at an all-night drug store. She shook it in Dr. Buzzard's sur prised face.
 "I raised Sylvia on this," she said grimly. "I raised her on it. and look at her! Look at hor."
 The old doctor did look al Sylvia then, and he winked, too. Sylvia, depend upon you to see that your aunt doesn't give the baby a dror of anything tonight. l think hell be all right in the morning. he said Anyway. I'll drop around and see.'
 He picked up his bag and started away with a cheerful Goodnight tC you,"
 At the door he bumped into Ran ny, who was stupidly trying to finG the key-hole.
 As the doctor passed him, ht strengthened up and opened hi' mouth 10 speak 10 him. But the doctor went straight down the stairs without so much a' a look at him. He had had no earth. ly use for Randall Phelps since tho night when Junior was born-thC night when Fanny had not come home until dawn!
 "Whst's tn matter? Baby sick ?' Fanny asked, as he took off his coa in the tiny hallway and hung it up His voice was thick and it seemed hard for him to talk clearly.
 Sylvia wished that there was some way of getting him off to bed with. out letting Aunt Agony see him in this state.
 But Aunt Agony was all primed for him. and the instant he set foot in the living room she fairly pounc- ed upon him as a clever old cat might pouncc upon hapless mouse
 "Hah!" she snorted, "so you're here! Better late than never eh '. Well, you're a fine one, aren't you?'
 She looked him up and down witl blighting look. "A fine time vol were having with that trollop hang ing 10 your arm this afternoon whil'