Little man. [Shaking his head violently] No, it is not.  No.

Official. [Tapping the telegram] Gut!  You are ’rested. [He signs to the policeman, who takes the little MAN’s arm.]

Little man.  Why?  I don’t want the poor baby.

Official. [Lifting the bundle] ’Dies ist nicht Ihr Gepack’—­pag?

Little Mary.  No.

Official.  Gut!  You are ’rested.

Little man.  I only took it for the poor woman.  I’m not a thief—­
I’m—­I’m——­

Official. [Shaking head] Verstehe nicht.

     [The little man tries to tear his hair.  The disturbed baby
     wails.]

Little man. [Dandling it as best he can] There, there—­poor, poor!

Official.  Halt still!  You are ’rested.  It is all right.

Little man.  Where is the mother?

Official.  She comet by next drain.  Das telegram say:  ’Halt einen Herren mit schwarzem Buben and schwarzem Gepack’.  ’Rest gentleman mit black baby and black—­pag.

     [The little man turns up his eyes to heaven.]

Official.  ‘Komm mit us’.

     [They take the little man toward the door from which they have
     come.  A voice stops them.]

American. [Speaking from as far away as may be] Just a moment!

[The official stops; the little man also stops and sits down on a bench against the wall.  The policeman stands stolidly beside him.  The American approaches a step or two, beckoning; the official goes up to him.]

American.  Guess you’ve got an angel from heaven there!  What’s the gentleman in buttons for?

Official.  ‘Was ist das’?

American.  Is there anybody here that can understand American?

Official.  ‘Verstehe nicht’.

American.  Well, just watch my gestures.  I was saying [He points to the little man, then makes gestures of flying] you have an angel from heaven there.  You have there a man in whom Gawd [He points upward] takes quite an amount of stock.  You have no call to arrest him. [He makes the gesture of arrest] No, Sir.  Providence has acted pretty mean, loading off that baby on him. [He makes the motion of dandling] The little man has a heart of gold. [He points to his heart, and takes out a gold coin.]

Official. [Thinking he is about to be bribed] ’Aber, das ist zu viel’!

American.  Now, don’t rattle me! [Pointing to the little man] Man [Pointing to his heart] ‘Herz’ [Pointing to the coin] ‘von’ Gold.  This is a flower of the field—­he don’t want no gentleman in buttons to pluck him up.