Mr. Baker

“ Baker should not take me back to Ascot House, although as yet I had not the remotest notion how to hinder his purpose.
One thing appeared certain. He was only to be defeated by strategy, and not by force. As I looked at his large fist resting on his arm-chair, I knew that if I attempted to resist I should be as powerless in his arms as I had been in those of the tramp. Presently Eliza re-entered the room to say the bed was ready, and when I arose Mr. Baker held out his arm to shake hands, causing me to feel not a little shamefaced. My friend seemed to have become an enemy. ”

“ A man with a very fine, characteristically American face, and a charming personality. Later, when everyone else went on to a ball, Mr. Baker took me for a drive in his car before dropping me at the Shoreham. I asked him what Mr. Baker he was, whether he was the Mr. Baker of the Wilson Administration. He obviously was laughing at my ignorance and explained that he was just plain Mr. Baker, although he had been in the Wilson 106 Administration, but that he had always been simply Mr. ”

“ He tried to engage Baker in conversation, but the latter, his hands free now, paced the room nervously, acting like some caged animal.
"I'm afraid of him!" he declared. "I don't know that I am doing what is best. He's a bad man. He begs me to spare him for the sake of his family."
"Is this a matter where settlement will do any injustice to others?" asked Bart.
"None, now—it is past that."
"Then follow the dictates of your own judgment, Mr. Baker," directed Bart, "being sure that you are acting with a clear conscience."
Colonel Harrington, when he returned, brought two documents. ”

“ Mr Baker being turned out of his fellowship for his honesty and integrity (as I have also lost my places for the same reason, in not taking the wicked oaths) , writes himself in all his books socius ejectus. His goodness and humanity are as charming, to those who have the happiness of his conversation, as his learning is profitable to his correspondents. The university library is not yet put into any order.”
25th June 1728.—“The Cambridge men are much wanting to themselves, in not retrieving the remains of their worthies. ”

“ Mr. Baker rose and went toward the door. "Come with me," he said to Duvall, "and you too, Jim." The three of them went along the corridor, arriving presently at the main entrance to the building. An elderly man sat at a high desk behind a wire grating.
"Curry," Mr. Baker burst out, "this boy tells me you gave him a package for Miss Morton a while ago."
"Yes, sir."
"Where did you get it?"
The man looked up in surprise.
"Why, sir, someone left it here—on my desk. I don't know who, sir. Right after lunch, it was. You know people deliver things here all the time. ”

“ Miss Baker was the daughter of Mr W. M. Baker, who was Master of the Royal Hibernian Marine School,* situated on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay. The Bakers moved from Dublin to the County Meath about 1830, Mr Baker being appointed to the charge of the Endowed School at Navan. Young Dr Lever was often to be found boating on the river Boyne with his sweetheart after his return from Canada. The doctor’s father was anxious that his brilliant son should make a good match—that is to say that, like Mickey Free, he should “marry a wife with a fortune” ”

“ In fact, I don't remember seeing the package handed in at all. Just found it lying on my desk, along with a lot of letters and things. Why, sir? Is anything wrong?"
Baker turned to Duvall in disgust.
"No system here at all," he grumbled. "The trail is lost, of course. Half a hundred people come through here every hour. That's all, Jim," he said, turning to the boy, who disappeared at once. Accompanied by Duvall, Baker returned to the private office.
"Well?" Mr. Baker asked. "What next?"
"How many typewriters have you in your offices, Mr. Baker? Machines, I mean, not operators." ”

“ Mr. Baker looked at Peter. “You want to go aboard, Peter?”
“The sooner the better, sir. We ’ve seen all we want of the town.”
“Liberty is n’t up, you know. Muss, eh? Better get in the boat if anybody comes.”
Mr. Baker was back in half an hour, followed by porters with baskets of fresh provisions. Three or four more of our men had drifted down. When we were halfway to the ship Mr. Baker spoke.
“You—what ’s your name?”
“John Brown, sir,” answered the knife-thrower, with half a second’s hesitation.
“John Brown, eh? We ’ve got one John Brown on the ship. Would n’t John Smith do you just as well?” ”

“ This dusky potentate had promised Baker every assistance that he could give, but having decided to make an attack on two neighbouring tribes he asked the Englishman to accompany his force and fight for him. This Baker refused to do, and, in revenge, the king sent secret orders to Baker's followers to desert him, and leave him and his wife to starve. In a desolate spot, unable to obtain provisions, Mr. and Mrs. Baker existed for two months, growing weaker daily from fever and want of proper food. ”

“ Mr. Baker did so.
"No," he said, "the bill has disappeared."
"Do you miss anything else?"
"No. The money is just five dollars short."
"Perhaps you forget yourself, and paid it away to a customer."
"Impossible; I always make change out of this drawer."
"Well, when you find it, I will make it right. I am in a hurry this morning."
Mr. Gay went out.
"Has any one been to this drawer?" inquired Mr. Baker, abruptly.
[236]
"You always keep it locked,—do you not?" said Mr. Jones. ”

“ Mr. Baker is one of the most useful, respected, and honored citizens of the town. Mrs. Baker is of good Barrington stock.
Nathaniel Brown, son of Kent and Betsey (Cole) Brown; b. Aug. 20, 1796; d. March 3, 1868; shoemaker and farmer; m. Martha T. Kinnicutt, April 12, 1821; children: Mary E., William R., Albert C, William R., Henry C, Helen M., Julia F., Harriet A. Mr. Brown was a member of the school committee, and a delegate to the Convention to form a State Constitution. He was an intelligent and an active man, and helped to promote all good enterprises in the town and church. ”

“ Baker. "It is the discovery of the key in his pocket that throws the gravest suspicion upon him. I must see his friends, and inquire into the matter."
"Of course they will stand by him," said Roswell.
"We may get some light thrown upon his possession of the key, at any rate, and can judge for ourselves."
"I shall keep you employed until this matter in in- vestigated," said Mr. Baker to Mark. "Here is a parcel of books to be carried to Twenty-Seventh Street. Come back as soon as they are delivered."
Mark went out with a heavy heart, for it troubled him to think he was under suspicion. ”

“ Well!—I came here for John Baker's sake! John Baker, who stood between you and death at Burnt Ridge, as I stand between you and damnation at Laurel Run, Mr. Green! Yes, John Baker, lying under half of Burnt Ridge, but more to me this day than any living man crawling over it—in—in"—Oh, fatal climax!—"in a month o' Sundays! What did I come here for? I came here as John Baker's livin' wife to carry on dead John Baker's work. Yes, dirty work this time, maybe, Mr. Green! but his work, and for him only—precious! That’s what I came here for; that's what I live for ”

“ The grinning death's head seal was appended in lieu of a signature, as before.
A feeling of resentment swept over the detective. It seemed that these people acted as they saw fit, with supreme indifference to the fact that he was on their trail. Never before had he felt his skill so flouted, his ability made so light of. And yet, as usual, the message had apparently been delivered in such a way as to make tracing it impossible.
"Still at it, it seems," Mr. Baker remarked. "This thing has got to stop, and at once. I don't propose to let anybody make a monkey of me." ”

“ And Mr Baker, the chief mate! Is not this little farewell enough to make us his friends for life?
“No one waited for him ashore. Mother died; father and two brothers, Yarmouth fishermen, drowned together on the Dogger Bank; sister married and unfriendly. Quite a lady, married to the leading tailor of a little town, and its leading politician, who did not think his sailor brother in-law quite respectable enough for him. ”

“ Baker.
'If you ask my opinion,' she replied, 'the sooner he's inside it the better.'
'Yes; and directly after breakfast to-morrow morning,' he said, 'I shall drive the youngster back to Castlemore.'
'Not to Mr. Turton's!' I cried.
'What else do you think I can do with you?' he asked, as Eliza went away to prepare my bed.
'I would sooner do anything—anything,' I said, 'than go back.'
'I dare say you would,' he answered. 'Only you see there is nothing else to be done. ”

“ Baker.
"That's so," he said presently. "Where are we—in Canada or the
United States?"
"I think we ought to apply for help in both New York and Ontario," said Mr. Baker, who was ordinarily a man of quiet demeanor, but now was worked up to a state of nervous worry over the fate of his son.
"It's going to take some time to make trips to both sides of the river and get the authorities of New York and Ontario busy," said Mr. Perry; "but I suppose that's the only thing to do, and every minute wasted is an opportunity lost. So let's go right away."
"Hold on, father," Cub interrupted ”

“ It is my proud boast, that I am one of the supporters of the scale of justice,—that scale which—
Doctor. Stop, Mr. Butts. If you have come here to deliver an oration on justice, you’ll excuse me, as I have far more important matters to occupy my attention.
Butts. Dr. Harlem, I have a tender heart, and the sight of misery is terrible to me.
Doctor. What’s that to do with me?
Butts. Doctor, compose yourself, imitate my stoicalness. You are a father— (Dilly rushes in, C.)
Dilly. Oh, such a race! they’re half-way across the lake, and Harry’s ahead, Harry’s ahead! ”

“ It was arranged that in three days, for he had some business to transact, he should go back to Milwaukie carrying Mark with him. He went round to Mr. Baker's store the next morning with his grandson, and explained to him why he should be obliged to withdraw him from his employ.
"I am sorry to lose him," said Mr. Baker. "He is quick and attentive to his duties, and has given me excellent satisfaction ”

“ This was so in the case of "old man Baker," as he was always called. (Such names are given in the western "settlements" only to elderly persons who are not esteemed; to the general disrepute of social unworth is affixed the special reproach of age.) A peddler came to his house and none went away—that is all that anybody knew.
Seven years later the Rev. Mr. Cummings, a Baptist minister well known in that part of the country, was driving by Baker's farm one night. ”

“ Do you hear?—a tender attachment!
Clap. Well, what of it?
Eben. What of it? Hear the man! Sir! Mr. Claptrap!
Clap. Clapboard, sir.
Eben. Mr. Clapboard. Ten years ago I retired from the soap and candle business with a fortune. This boy is my only son; young, impulsive, thoughtless, he has come to the country; his susceptible heart is a target, at which a thousand loving glances will be thrown by the eyes of rural beauties—
Clap. Humbug! There isn’t a female within three miles of the place. ”

“ Go to the head. Why does a fat man who is hated by every mountain man, who grafts barefacedly, whose men are either loafers or discouraged, hold his job?"
"Same answer."
Baker leaned forward, and his mocking face became grave.
"That pull comes from the fact that old Gay is his first cousin, and that he seems to have some special drag with him."
"The Republican chairman!" cried Welton.
Baker leaned back.
"About how much chance do you think Mr. Orde has of getting a hearing? Especially as all they have to do is to stand pat on the record. ”

“ Kil. Oh, yees make me blush,—the sight of those bright eyes, and the swate words yees be afther saying. Shure, a foiner jig I never saw in the ould country. Will yees be afther telling the colonel I am here?
Polly. Yes, Pete will do that. Ask if the messenger shall be sent to his room.
Pete. All right, Polly. Who is de message from, sah?
Kil. Mr. Randolph Newcomb, if yees plaze.
(Exit Pete, L.)
Polly. Should think that Mr. Newcomb had done mischief enough. You can't be very proud of your master.
Kil. Faith, and it's little I care about him. I applied for the situation to plaze Mr. Roger. ”

“ Douglas. You have no witnesses. Your charge will fall to the ground, Mr. Jarius Jordan. You have outwitted me, but you must confess I have plotted safely. There’s not a point you’ve found to convict me of crime. You are rather keen. Try it. If I have failed in my attempt to ruin the family of the renowned shoemaker, John Nutter, I have still the satisfaction of retiring from the field with a very handsome profit in the shape of your check for a thousand dollars, which I shall expect to receive before night. ”

“ More than one cowboy privately recommended to Bud that his father "pasture" the professor out on some good grass for a season.
"Well, now you know as much as I do," went on Mr. Merkel. "Our cattle have been stolen, and the gang—Del Pinzo's, I'm pretty certain—is driving them south. It's up to us to get after them."
"And we will!" cried Bud. "As soon as we have a bite to eat and can pack up some grub——"
He paused, for the telephone began ringing violently. ”

“ Bud said gratefully.
"Well, when do we start?" Mr. Merkel asked. "If you men are hungry, we'd better get going. Did I understand you to say we'd have a load going back, Bud?"
"And then some! Now let's see how we can arrange this. Billee Dobb goes back in the buckboard. And so do the others who are badly hurt. How many do you think can ride, Kid? You know we've got their horses at the back, and some can come along on them."
"Figure Delton and two of those other guys should go in the wagon. The rest can fork the broncs. They're able. ”