Postmaster Pratt gave the news to Scattergood in the morning.

“Somebody went and left a baby on to Jed Lewis’s stoop last night,” he declared.  “Hain’t nobody been able to identify it.  Nary a mark nor a sign on to it no place. ...  Whatever possessed anybody to leave a baby there of all places?”

“I want to know!” exclaimed Scattergood.  “Girl er boy?”

“Boy, I’m told.”

“What’s Jed say?”

“Hain’t sayin’ much.  Jest sets and kind of hangs on to his head, and every once in a while he gits up and looks at the baby and then goes back to holdin’ his head.”

“How about Marthy?”

“Marthy,” said Postmaster Pratt.  “I can’t make out about Marthy, but I heard her a-singin’ this mornin’ ’fore breakfast.  Fust time I heard her sing for more ’n a year.”

“Might ‘a’ been singin’ to the baby,” Scattergood suggested.

“Naw, it was while she was gittin’ breakfast.  Jest the time she and Jed quarrels most powerful.”

During the day all of Coldriver called to see the mysterious infant.  Nobody could give a clue to its identity, and it was decided unanimously that it had been brought from a distance.  As to the intentions of the Lewises regarding its disposition, they were noncommittal.  It was universally accepted as fact, however, that the baby would be sent to an institution.

Thereupon Scattergood called upon the First Selectman.

“What’s the town goin’ to do about that baby?” he demanded.  “Taxpayers’ll be wantin’ to know.  Seems like the town’s liable f’r its support.”

“Calculate we be....  Calculate we be.  I been figgerin’ on what steps to take.”

“Better go across to Jed’s and notify ’em,” said Scattergood.  “They’ll be expectin’ you to take action prompt.  I’ll go ’long with you.”

They walked down the street and rapped at the Lewises’ door.

“Come on official business,” said the First Selectman, pompously, to Jed, “connected with that there foundlin’.”

Martha came hastily into the room.  “What you want?” she demanded, in a dangerous voice.

“Come to tell you we would take that baby off’n your hands and send it to a institution.  Git it ready, and we’ll take it to-morrer.”

“Take that baby!...  Did you hear him, Jed Lewis?  Did you hear that man say as how he was goin’ to take away my baby?” She stumbled across the room to Jed and clutched the lapels of his coat.  Scattergood noticed with some pleasure that Jed’s arm went automatically about her waist.  “Make ’em git out, Jed.  Tell ’em they can’t take this baby....  You want we should keep it, don’t you, Jed?...  We wanted one.  You know how we wanted one....  You’re goin’ to let us keep it, hain’t you, Jed?”

Jed put Martha aside gently and walked over to a makeshift crib in the corner, where the baby was asleep, where he stood for a moment looking down at it with a curious expression.  Then he turned suddenly, strode to the door, opened it, and pointed.  “Git!” he said to the First Selectman and Scattergood.