The Washington times., 1936-06-23

"And, of course, you under
stand I'd come oftener to see you
but 1 can't leave the baby with
Jimmy and as for your stepfather,
the less said about him the better.
I've got my hands full, what with
bottles to sterilize and the baby'S
formula to make and endless wash
ing, to say nothing of your dying
mother"
How is Mom?"
"JuSt as might be expected.
Slowly starving to death. I must
say my heart aches for the poor
thing. I wish the baby had better
surroundings. He shouldn't be eX-
posed to that unhealthy atmoS-
phere. wish you'd let me send
him to the cottage in New Jersey.
I'd get a good nurse to care for
him"
"Oh no! I'll be home Soon."
But you can't go to work the
day after you leave the hospital.
You've had quiet siege, my girl.
What do you propose to do? Keep
him in that suffocating fire-trap,
filling his young lungs with the
odor Of death! AS far as I see it,
you'd best let me handle the Situa-
ton"
I'll get in touch with Ricky." !"
"You will, will you? And why
has he not appeared, I wonder?"
''I don't believe Henry Mason
ever sent the telegram! Won't you
please wire Ricky again and make
sure that he knows?"
''I'll certainly do nothing Of the
kind! Far be it from me to say
much in praise Of my noble
brother but what possible reason
could he have for Withholding
news of the birth from the child'S
father? Certainly Mr.. Mason has
no intention of supporting your
child. And he has no use for the
dear little thing. I'm quite sure
he'd leave no stone unturned to
get it quickly out of the house.
So he sent the wire, all right, all
right! And you know that you
sent letters. don't you? And that
they we're never answered?
"You talked plenty when you
were out of your head. Why has
there been no word from the low
ing husband all these days? He
knew you were expecting the baby
around this time. didn't he? If
I'm not mistaken, you came to
child-bed in anguish because Of his
long silence. Isn't that a fact?"
White-faced and shaking, Nell
insisted: II know something is
wrong with Ricky. He'd he here
if he knew about his SON."
Indeed, and you think a young
man with very little money is crav-
ing burdens and responsibility, do
you? And you think he's not been
having a good time for himself a
thousand miles away and free as
air? If know anything Of young
rakes, he's been gallivanting plenty
and may not find it convenient at
this moment to call a halt On his
gallop. You'd best gather your
strength, my girl, and be thankful
you can raise your son without any
male interference. You and will
make better man of the lad than
any of them could do"
Tears of weakness and anger
crept to Nell'S eyes. She Winked
them Savagely away.
Mamie has the basSinet ready.
Will you phone and tell her the
baby has arrived? She'll get the
crib out to you"
'Mamie-and who Is she? Some
more of the riff-raff Swarming in
that dirty tenement? I thought I
never would get the place clean
of them. Mama Raskovitch COM
ing up and wanting to sew the
baby in swaddling clothes!"
Nell closed her eyes wearily.
'Mamie's our friend. She made
the little dresses"
"Oh - the little hunchback?
Well, I'll call her up. But you
surely don't want me to leave the
baby alone while go out to make
useless telephone calls? I wouldn't
be here this evening only I got
Mary Parker to come in and sit
with your mother and the baby.
I know Mary's competent.
"But I won't be visiting you
again. Much as I like hospitals, I
can't neglect the child. Did you
read in the paper this morning
about the young mother who
tainted just as she set her two
week-old child in his bath? When
she came to her baby was
drowned"
Esther'S black eyes flashed hot
ly: so don't get your feelings
hurt and think you're forgotten.
I'll see that you get any necessary
news-even word from him! You
just lie here in peace and get your
health again. It's a very nice
place, I must say"
The jovial nurse who was Nell's
friend had passed back and forth,
giving Aunt Esther 1rate glances.