Evening star., 1926-11-25
THE EVENING
STORY
Todd's Baby.

N
NH husband. had reached point
IV1 in their lives where there
4 seemed nothing to do but to
separate. Phings had been
going from bad to worse ever since
their baby had died. After the ut
tie boys death Dan had grown
little more silent and Minty had he-
come convinced that in some way
he held her responsible for his loss
For her mart Minty knew that she
had done everything in her power
for the little fellow, but laid his death
entirely to the fact that ranch lie
had not agreed with either her or the
baby. She had never liked the ranch.
and the trouble started when she had
tried to urge Dan to sell out ana go
back East, but Dan felt he was DOING
very well, az, indeed. he was, ana
refused to sell. After the death OF the
hahv. which. however, was from nat
urai causes. as the doctor told the
Oltyers. and would have occurred
wherever they had lived, Minty and
Dan almost grew to hate each other.
The result was that on this GREATNESS,
hot morning in Midsummer Dan was
taking Minty to town. where she
would board the afternoon train for
her home in Maine.
The miles slipped by in utter silence.
III n90 nGen 88lO lIldl NHS ilNtc>NcI
nothing now remained but to reach
town as quickly As possible and sepa-
rate each to pick UP some sort OF life
and make the best of what the future
might hold for them. which at pres
ent did not promise very much.
Suddenly the car in which they were
riding gave q gasp and stopped dead
still. Dan opened the door and got
out.
What is tt?" Minty asked GROSSLY
1.-The engine Is dead" Dan replied,
briefly and fell 70 working half
heartedly. 1.-THE car is about done
for If all had gone we'll l should
have bought another one, but 1t
doesn't matter now. I'll get 1t fixed
up so we can get to town, don't
worry
The sun beat down mercilessly, and
to Minty. tired with ner hasty prepa-
rations for her trip. it soon became
almost unbearable. and she could not
help wondering how Dan could en-
dure to work over the already over
heated engine.
Finally. after few moments of
fruitless effort. Dan crawled out from
under the car and said:
Il have found where the trouble is.
but | shall have to have help. ! am
going on to Tuliver's. You can't stay
come. too. 1t isn't half a mile to
the house. just over the creek there.
And it VIII he some cooler walking.
will get Tuliver to tow me. into his
barn, then we can Jack up the car and
soon get Al the trouble. | am sorry.
Minty. but don't worry. We will soon
get 1t in shape and go on Good thing |
We started early" he added
They crossed the field which led to |
tho 'TIIiVpr prh II |
walking. hut Minty was glad enough |
when they reached the house. Mrs. !
Tuliver a big. capable woman, with |
sensible face and shrewd ewes, came |!
out to meet her and invited her to |
come in She gave Minty a pamleaf |
fan and a cool drink. and soon Minty |
found herself feeling in better mood |
than she had known for DAYS |
AS the two women sat comfortably |
enjoying the breeze which foated in |
through the open door AIinty was |
startled by a sound. She looked in |
amazement at Mrs. Tuliver and a mo- |
ment later the sound was repeated
Why" said Minty breathlessly, !
that sounds like baby"
1T is baby" said Mrs Tuliver. !
~ have not said anything to any, |
body about it--but now | guess | can. |
Something has got to be done about |
1t. ! can't keep the child any longer |
but there. let me tell YOU about it. |
II belongs to that worthless Ben Todd |
over on Crystal Creek the one who |
was sentenced last week for keepin g +
stolen goods on his place IIe%Was-
sent mp for five years--and well he de-.
served II. too. His wife died about |
a month ago and Ren has been going
from bad to worse. He kept the baby,
thinking ii would throw the officers
off the scent and in case he got
caught, for sympathy too. l guess,
but they caught him red-ha nded, and
The sheriff asked me to keep the baby
until something could be done with
II. Ben refuses to give any address
OF any Of his folks, says he don't
want them to know what he's been
up to. and. anyway. he knows they
won't take the baby, because they
never liked his wife. Poor creature,
she did have hard time | guess.
But she stuck 10 her man and what
else could she do? | tell you. Mrs.
Oliver. the world has very little use
for woman who deserts her husba nd
even if he Amt Just what he ought
to he. In this day and generation
II A woman gets good. true man.
one that is a good provider, she may
consider herself lucky. Let me run
on. But then there aren't many wom-
en- that has the good luck to get A
man like Dan oliver"
Just then the door which opened
from another room was pushed back |
and a tousled head peeped in, Receiv-