Evening star., 1927-04-05

the window Of the day coach
as the fast train pulled out of
worden. She had been slightly
aroused by the actions of a man who
came tearing down the platform just
a second too late. 1t was raining so
hard and the light was so dim that
she could not see how he looked, but
his gestures gave a droll pantomine
of his feelings at having lost his train:
The faint smile that the humor OF
the thing had called to Miss Pomela
face still fingered there, relieving its
habitual cool indifference Of expires,
sion. At AZ Miss Pamela found
nothing to interest her unduly. She
lived quietly, impeccably, politely IN
her old fashioned yellow house behind
the elns that her grandfather had
planted. She had money enough, no
cares, no excitements. Even today
shopping trip to the city failed 10
arouse in her passionate expecIa-
ton. She had made so many shop-
ming trims to the city. likewise she had
bought so many dark hats, so many
frocks for every occasion after
moor. - so many coats and blouses and
narrow low-heeled shoes that she no
longer found novelty in anything new
The next station was WestVale'
where she lived. She would nave 70
take 2. cab Mrs. Hoyt would senu
one after her. Mrs. Hoyt was the
elderlv woman, half companion, hat
servant. who looked after the yellow
house. thus permitting Miss Pamela
10 occupy herself with whatever she
could find to do.
"Wow-wow Diddyr' the small voice
came from the seat whose back had
been turned against Miss Pamela
seat. "Wow-wow Diddy?" 1t repeated
with an induiring note. Immediately
nd
usually accompanies bumps. Ihe
1younsr couple across the aisle were too
absorbed in each other to notice, the
stout woman was dozlng, two Oh d
proun of men down at the other end
of the car were playing plnochle:
There was nobody to go to the ala OF
a cYving baby who had just fallen OH
the seat and received a spanking from
n particularly hard floor.
ssT,iddv? Diddy?" Miss Pamela, un-
sfDiddy? Diddy?" Miss Pamela, un'
comfortably aware of what was going
on behind her, turned her head as
small person in blue trotted in beside
her laid a hand on her knee ana
looked I'D into her face, 'Diddy, DID
dv7" repeated the soft little voice
Tears stood in the blue eyes, above
which a red lump was rapidly rising.
Miss Pamela knew no more ABOUT
children than she learned each week
from her Sunday school class OF nalI-
grown boys, but that instinct Whlch -
every normal woman's urged her 10
lift the baby to her lap and wipe away
fhe tears with an exquisite handkeE
chief which smelled of Partisan per-
furne. Children are sensitive TO sweet
odors and this one smiled, especially
when Miss Pamela opened her bag and
took a tube of cold cream from tiny
travelling case and smeared the un-
guent soothingly upon the lump. with
perfect confidence, the blue oonnet
nestled against Pamela's shoulder.
The conductor who had taken the
train at Worden came down the aisle
gathering tickets. he knew MISS
Pamela and when he saw baby IN
her arms he showed surprise.
"Hellom the good-natured man
poked a caressing finger into the
baby's plump dimpled cheek.
s'Vbo is it?" Miss Pamela appealed.
sWhy isn't somebody looking after
it?"
.Where did it come from?"
'eThat seat behind me-"
next seat. There had evidently Deen
nothing there but the baby. He shook
his head and glanced at his watch in
the way Of conductors.
srWe'il be in Rossville in 10 minutes.
III telegraph back from there" ne
said. II thought I'd had about every,
thing left on my train, but l VIII
admit this is the first time I've ever
had an unclaimed baby"
"I'll keep him until an owner IS
found" Miss Pamela promised. She
was growing more and more in love
with the child every moment. he
was the dearest thing, a year and
half old possibly. She dared kiss
on his cheek. ''Diddy? Diddy?" ne
questioned. THAT means Daddy OF
course" Miss Pamela thought.
1t was pouring when the tram
atopped at the Rossville station. The
conductor had a conference with Miss
Pamela. 1t was decided that she
should take the baby home. Mrs
Hoyt had sent cab and a few min
altes later Pamela was in her own
home displaying to Mrs. Hoyt's aston
ashed eyes a different parcel from any
she had ever brought back from the
city.
MY sakes alive" Mrs. Hoyt ex-
claimed. Pamela. you're in boat.
Don't you know that baby was aban-
doned on purpose? Why, it's being
done every day."
II don't believe anybody would
abandon anything as sweet as this
cherub," returned Pamela.
Fed and refreshed, the baby went
TO sleep in Miss Pamela's arms. She
laid him down on the davenport and
covered him lightly. Strange how
naturally such services came to her
aven though she was a spinster.
The telephone called Pamela away
from her attractive occupation of
tending the baby.
HAS Pamela got home yet?-oh,
this is Pamela" 1t was Mrs. Brai-
sted, president of the woman's club.
Pamela, Prof. Dodge didn't come?
Did-not-come. And the meeting
begins at 8 o'clock. It's 7:30 now
no ] haven't heard one word from
him. l called UP his cousin, Mrs. Otis.
and she doesn't know any more about
him than ] do. She expected him
to stay with her. I'm just about
crazy. You are always so efficient.
Can't YOU tell me something to do?'
Pamela couldn't. Her mind wasn't
on Prof. Dodge at all or the troubles
of Mrs. Braisted. She was absorbed
in that pink-and- -gold-and-b morsel
on her davenport. Oh. if nobody
claimed him she might keep him
forever!
She was kneeling beside him, gaz-
ing upon the dimpled wonder of the