With a smothered whoop Tom was off, and Black returned to the larger room, remaining, however, near the door of the back shop. Ten minutes later an eager whisper through a crack of that door summoned him and he slipped out to find Tom gingerly holding a bundle from one end of which protruded a dark little head.
“Here he is—poor little cuss! He’s about the most whipped looking specimen I ever saw. Think he’ll sell a poster? He’s sold one already—blamed if he hasn’t—at the best price Tommy Boy can afford.”
“Keep him quiet here for a bit, can you, Tom? I’ll come for him when I think his chance is ripe. Will he keep still?”
“Too used to shifting for himself not to keep still, I guess.” Tom gazed pityingly into the thin little face with its big eyes regarding him steadily in the dim light of the outer room. “All right, I’ll keep him quiet. But don’t hold off the crisis too long. R. P.’s about at the end of his wind. First time in my life I ever saw Doctor in a corner, but he’s sure in one now.”
“He’s done nobly; we just aren’t educated up to the idea yet, that’s all. Baby may not help out, but we’ll try.”
Black went back. Red turned and gave him a look as he came in which said, “I wish I were about a million miles away from here. How in thunder do you do it?” As if the thought were father to the demand he suddenly beckoned and spoke:
“Mr. Black, suppose you come up here and tell us about these last—and best—posters. My oratory has run out. I know you have one poster of your own you haven’t shown—isn’t it time for that now?”
Black smiled up at him—a friendly smile which answered: “I’d like nothing better than to help you out, old fellow!” But aloud he said: “Rather a telling one has just been brought in by Mr. Thomas Lockhart. With your permission I’ll be glad to show it to everybody.”
And with that he was out of the room and back again, and the baby—out of its wrappings, its thin, tiny frame, pinched face and claw-like hands showing with a dumb eloquence—was held cosily in the tall minister’s left arm, and his right hand was gently smoothing back the curly black locks from the wistful little brow. He took one step upon the platform Red was about to vacate, and looked down into the upturned faces. “Don’t go yet, please, Doctor,” he requested, in the other’s ear. Reluctantly Burns waited, scanning the baby.
“There isn’t anything I can say, ladies and gentlemen,” Black began, very quietly, and looking back into the small face as he went on. “It’s all said by this little chap. He’s just been brought over to this country, with scores more, by the Committee for Belgian Relief. A kind-hearted French family near by have offered to care for him until a home can be found. The father of this family was at the pier when the ship came in, saw this baby, and brought him home with him. It is for hundreds of such little forlorn creatures as he that Miss Ray wants to raise the largest sum we are able to give her. We can’t conceive how much money is needed, but we can’t possibly make the amount too large.”