"She knows what she's sayin', all right, but I'm as rattled as a tenderfoot."
Nevertheless he derived a preposterous delight from this experience, until he realized that they were wandering aimlessly. Then thoughts of a possible encounter with a distracted parent filled him with such dismay that he appealed to the first woman he met.
"Lady! If you know where this baby lives—"
"Certainly I know."
"Then take her home. Her mother'll think I'm a kidnapper." Daniels perspired at the thought.
The woman laughingly accepted the responsibility of a full explanation, but as she lifted the child it turned up its face to Daniels, quite as a matter of course. The rosebud lips awaited him, yet he did not understand. He inquired, blankly:
"Now what does she want?"
"A kiss. Don't you, dearie?"
"God'lmighty!" breathed the man. Then he lowered his bearded face.
He was trembling when the strangers had gone; he felt those moist baby lips against his and the sensation almost overcame him. He didn't like the woman's appearance, but she seemed tender-hearted and—there was no better way of insuring the safety of his little charge than to give her over.