The Argosy, Vol. 61, No. 4 — page 44: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

602 you boys, and get the youngster stowed away comfortable.” By the united efforts of three police- men and the little servant, who assumed command, the infant was bestowed in its carriage, and a small procession started up the street for the car-line intersection, a group of constables at the door of the station-house making audible comments on Mr. Scales’s lack of self-control. First went by the _ baby - carriage, pushed by the nurse-girl with one hand while the other struggled with Mr. Scales’s umbrella, and a few yards be- hind came Mr. Scales, with one anxious eye on his charge, and the other on the lookout to avoid any chance meeting with an acquaintance. A gleaming umbrella was suddenly Swept aside to avoid a collision with the head of the procession, and Mr. Scales found himself face to face with a gray- whiskered, red-faced gentleman, who greeted him cordially. ‘ Hallo, Scales! ite = ‘“Infernal!’’? assented Mr. _ Scales hastily, and. tried to dodge past, but the eray-whiskered gentleman barred the way. “ Hold on a minute,” he said. “I was looking for you this afternoon, and—”’ ‘Sorry, my dear chap,” replied Mr. Scales, who saw the baby-carriage draw- ing rapidly ahead, ‘‘ I’m in a deuce of a hurry.” “Vou can surely spare me a couple of minutes,” went on the other, anchoring the harassed Mr. Scales by a coat-button. “That house I was looking at the other day—”’ “Stop!” yelled Mr. Scales suddenly. “Stop right there!” The gray-whiskered gentleman regard- ed him with astonishment and offense writ large on his features. “All right,” he said huffily, “if you don’t want to hear what I’ve got to say.” “T wasn’t speaking to you,” replied Mr. Scales, glaring in front of him. “1 was calling to that girl on ahead.” The other, with a wink and a waggish grin, looked around and then glanced back at Mr. Scales with surprise. “Why, she’s only a child,” he said re- provingly.. “What do you take me for?” pro- Beastly night, isn’t THE ARGOSY. tested Mr. Scales angrily, as the nurse- girl, in obedience to his shout, brought the carriage to a dead stop. ‘Do you suppose I came out a night like this to flirt with nurse-maids. The fact is—” And in a few words and with a some- what shamefaced manner he explained the circumstances. “Oh!” said the other, with a chuckle. ‘So that’s Butterworth’s kid, and you’re playing nurse. Why don’t you get some of your own, Scales? You're cut out for a family man. Well, I won't stop you. I wish you luck and a safe journey. Would you like me to turn back and see you to the car?” Mr. Scales, irritated by this ill-timed jocularity, declined the offer with some heat, and, shaking off the old gentleman’s grasp, hurried on. ‘“Now, listen to me,” he said, ranging alongside the nurse-girl and speaking in as amiable a tone as he could command: ‘When the car comes you will take the baby out of the carriage, go right into the car with it, and find a seat well forward. I will look after the carriage and stay out on the platform. When we reach the transfer-point I will come into the car and signal to you to get off. On no ac- count move until you see me. Do you understand ? ”’ ‘Yes, sir,”’ replied the girl obediently. ‘“T’m to stay on the car till you tell me to get off.” : ‘Quite right,”’ assented Mr. Scales en- couragingly. ‘* Here’s a car-ticket for you. There is no need for you to let people see that I am looking after you. Do exactly as I tell you and I will give you a quarter when we get home.” ‘Thank you, sir,” said the girl dully. “There’s a car coming now. Shall I take baby out?” Mr. Scales nodded assent, and the little party took their places in the roadway, the nurse hugging the baby, who was be- ginning to show signs of fractiousness at these sudden changes of location, and Mr. Scales grasping the handle of the baby-carriage with the tense look of a starter in a hundrd-yard dash. The car came to a halt, and the nurse dutifully climbed aboard with the baby, while Mr. Scales skipped nimbly to the rear with the carriage. “Hey!” said the conductor, suddenly EO OO (©