Andrew the Glad

And it happened that in more ways than one David Kildare found himself

the perturbed host. He rushed home and dressed with lightning-like

rapidity and whirled away in the limousine for Milly and Billy Bob.

He went for them early, for he had bargained to come for Phoebe as late

as possible so as to give her time to reckon with her six-thirty

freckled-faced devil at the office. But at the Overtons he found

confusion confounded.

"I'm so sorry, David," Milly almost sobbed, "but Mammy Betty's daughter

has run away and got married and she has gone to see about it, and the

trained nurse can't come. There has been an awful wreck up the road and

all the doctors in town have gone and taken all the nurses with them. She

didn't consider the babies serious, so she just had some one telephone at

the last minute that she had gone. I can't go; but please make Billy go

with you! There is no use--" and she turned to Billy Bob who stood by in

pathetically gorgeous array, but firm in his intention not to desert the

home craft.

"We just can't make it, Dave, old man," he said manfully, as he caught

his tearful wife's outstretched hand in his. "Go on before we both cry!"

"Go on, nothing--with Milly looking like a lovely pink apple-blossom!

You've got to come. I wouldn't dare face Phoebe without you. It's the

whole thing to her to have you there. It's been so long since you've

gladded with the crowd once and it's her birthday and--" David's voice

trailed off into a perfect wail.

"But what can we do?" faltered Milly, dissolved at the mention of the new

frock. "We certainly can't leave them and we can't take them and--"

"Glory, that's the idea, let's _take_ the whole bunch!" exclaimed David

with radiant countenance. "I ought to have invited them in the first

place. Come on and let's begin to bundle!" and he made a dive in the

direction of the door of the nursery.

"Oh, no, indeed we can't!" gasped Milly while Billy Bob stood stricken,

unable to utter a word.

"I'll show you whether we will or not," answered David. "Catch me losing

a chance like this to ring one on Phoebe for several reasons. Hurry up!"

and as he spoke he had lifted little Mistake from his cot and was

dextrously winding him in his blanket. The youngster opened his big dewy

eyes and chuckled at the sight of his side partner, David Kildare.

"That's all right, he's all for his Uncle Davie. Here, you take him Billy

Bob and I'll help Milly roll up the twins. She can bring down Crimie

while I bring them," and as he spoke he began a rapid swathing of the two

limp little bodies from the white crib.