Tom Tilling's Baby

A horse shoe is an omen of good luck. Tom, the little bootblack, believes it, so does his sister Susie, and they are very proud of the one which Tom has just found and upon which he pins his faith in starting out for his day's business. Mamie, the nurse maid in wealthy Mr. Carter's family, and Hodges, the butler, are always jollying and joking each other, and incidentally thinking up some practical joke to play on each other. Hodges thinks of one which he considers capital. He awaits his chance to play it on the unsuspecting nurse. The opportunity comes when the nurse has the baby out in the park for an airing. While she is talking with a policeman, Hodges removes the baby, while still asleep, from its carriage and hides it in the bushes, some little distance away. After her tete-a-tete with the cop she discovers the loss of the child. The bluecoat and the nurse start on a wild hunt, without result. In the meantime Tom happens along the pathway where the little one is hidden, is somewhat astonished to find it in such a peculiar place, but doesn't fail to make a mental note of the butler, who is sneaking away. Tom decides to take the baby home to Susie and adopt it as a member of their household. The nurse, in tears, tells Mr. and Mrs. Carter of their loss and they insert an advertisement, offering a reward of $5,000 for the return of their child, thoroughly convinced that it has been kidnapped. Tom sees this notice and hastens to the Carter home. Mr. Carter goes with the little fellow and soon returns with the baby, depositing it in his joyous wife's arms. Tom is invited to take dinner with them. While they are at the table, the butler enters. Tom's keen eye at once detects him as the man he saw sneaking away from where he found the baby. The butler is accused of kidnapping the child and taken to the police station, where he tells it was all a practical joke. This explanation does not save him from prompt dismissal from the Carters' employ. With the reward, Tom opens a bootblacking parlor. Susie is his cashier and Mr. Carter his staunchest friend, making the little fellow a prosperous and happy businessman.