The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-09-30

child's hand then, clutching her
hair; she heard it's weak sobs.
Her own head swan. Breath
sWelled in her chest. :. Hurt. She
was falling, and the weight of the
baby was slipping. Her arms would
not hold-the child.
1t was-slipping. She tried to
scream, to move her lips. Slip
ping! A hysterical woman was
reaching toward her, a woman
with frantic, tortured eyes. She
could not hand the baby to the
woman. She
And then the world went black.
Everything was mercifully still.
The excited voices of the crowd
could not penetrate the churning
blackneSS which enveloped Mark
Barnes wife.
When Mildred opened her eyes,
she was the center of small,
lingering circle.
Somebody held a cup OF cold
water to her lips; pale man in
motorman'S cap was tanning
her; a woman whose face was
vaguely familiar was supporting
her sagging shoulders.
Embarrassed, Mildred sat up.
And remembered. She said, her
voice frayed. 1.-THE baby-the little
girl-she's all right?"
eyes," some one behind Mildred
answered. Thanks to you, Mrs.
Barnes, she is. How can we ever
thank you for what you've done?"
Mildred stared at the Child'S
mother. How do you know me?"
she asked, bewildered. I'm a
stranger here, and"
NO STRANGER
The young woman who was hold
ing her frightened her arms. "Oh,
no you aren't, Mildred Barnes.
Don't you remember me?
I'm Marian Lane. You were
magnificent just now. I saw the
youngster run into the street, but
all I could do was stand and yell.
Even her mother would have been
too late. But you"
Before Mildred could speak, the
m o torn a ms hat was off. He
mopped his brow, and stammered.
"You saved me my job, miSSuS.
I couldn't Of seen the kid any
sooner-she darted out like a rab-
bit! But if I'd hit her =. Lord"
Marian Lane said, "The baby
you saved is my niece, Mildred.
This is my sister, Doris Wakely.
You two should have met before"
Mildred could only stare. She
did not mean to say, Il have
scarcely met anybody. I wasn't
looking where was going. I guess
I was wrapped in blanket of self
pity, because I hated the city. I
thought"
THAT nobody wanted to know
you?" a bluff voice interrupted. 81
know all about that, missus. My
wife was the same way, when we
first came to the city"
The grateful motorman disre-
garded the amazement of the
three well-dresSed young women.
He went on.
You take girl and put her in
a town where she don't have no
friends and she gets to imagining
things She gets down in the
mouth, and first thing you know
she's got her hands tied up in
knots!"
Mildred stared at the honest
face. Merchandise"
A NEW WORLD
The motorman scratched his
head. Sure. And then every
thing stops! You gotta open up
your hands to receive anything,
haven't you? Try it, and you'll
see what I mean.
That's why when you jumped
in to grab this here baby" He
patted the yellow curls. you
sure opened your hands that time,
miss. You're gonna see what I
meant"
The man was right. BY one
unselfish gesture, by opening her
hands, Mildred Barnes found a
new world. Certainly a new city
In which her husband
But Mark Barnes spectacular
success came later. Though it
may have had its beginning when
Marian Lane asked, after the
philosophical motorman had rid.
den away, rs there any place
special you want to go, Mildred?
My car is across the street.
Or we would love you to lunch
with US at the City Club. That's
where we were headed when"
And Mildred Barnes answered,
I'D like to lunch with you.
was going to the station. But
now-well, I guess I won't need
a timetable"
She laughed. Her hands re-
laXed; opened
Then suppose you and your
sister come up to my house after.
Don't you think we might get a
tourth-and have rubber or two
of bridge?"
THE END
| Copyright, 1887. by News Syndicate