El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-24


tlemen''-he turned to the crowd. a
eizahle number by this time and agog
with curiosity-''let me explain.
So Tommy with all the fiery Irish
elouuence in his power explained. And
then, while the crowd settled closer, he
flung his offer at the bewildered dealer
"You, SIR to the reporter, ''pass the
hat Let that So stay in. Look here
What will you sell FORT That So bill ?
"No, won't" said the dealer. 81
can get more from the old woman"
Tommy darted glance at the re-
porter, and that nimble witted young
man promptly took his cue. ''She's
gone, - said he, looking in another di-
rection from the place where they left
the two Germans 1 can't see herl"
'sThen 1 don't care to do anything,
returned Tommy. giving himself an ir-
rita ole shake "Hand me my bill. -
'sI'll make it $10." said the dealer
quickly Come now You can find
her. I'm sorry for the old party too. "
ssEight," said Tommy. making as if
to go.
stNine." said the dealer in dying
voice
ssMake it nine. Well all chip in,
called the most distant man in the
crowd. The hat went round with Tom
my's bank note and 81 from the report
er. 1t returned laden with SIS. 80, and
Tommy grimly threw in cigar, which
he said he bought in Chicago for 10
cents. 1t was not five minutes before
the sailor man headed an interested
procession, bearing the box back to the
old woman.
70 10
reporter about two hours later, ''she
took it well-a kind of dignity.
81 guess we shan't be any the worse
off for her prayers. said the reporter
thoug htfnlly But. sayl You've miss
ed your train. and you had an impor-
tant appointment, didn't you say? That
was taking grandma home yourself in
carriage.
''She wasn't fit to walk said Tom
my. Cliff she'd been my mother, I'd
have wanted her taken home.
''That's right, said the reporter. He
did not say anything else, though he
looked at Tommy with kind of light
ening of his sharp smile, and just then
Tommy hailed a cab to save the next
train if be could, and SO they parted.
Tommy was not lucky enough even
to catch his second train, wherefore he
was obliged to pass the night in the
city and return home in the very early
morning hours in a decidedly irritable
frame of mind. He did not repent of
his humanity. but [ must confess that
he did wish that his mother had not
put him in the way of being humane.
Harry Losing and another root fast
political friend were waiting at the
depot, nor did their aspect of reproach-
full gloom tend to ease his mood.
''How are things?'' he ventured aft
er they had silently taken his bag and
walked him into the street.
eff you mean the election said
Harry. ''everything is going wrong
Paulsen is on his high horse"
''Why didn't you show up at the
meeting?'' asked McGinnis, the other
friend, in the tone of an executioner
demanding of his victim which side of
the block he preferred.
II missed the train.'' said Tommy
meekly.
''You missed the trainl" McGinnis'
heavy voice rose a note in caustic sar-
casm. 'Well, TEN, 1 didn't think you
was the kind of man to miss trains or
I'd never have gone in for you. Did
You have a pleasant time? I hope that
much, for you're likely to miss your
tooI''
''Drop that, McGinnisr' said Loss
ing. ''You know perfectly well Fitz-
isn't that kind. What was the
matter? Paulsen makes a great offense
of your not coming. Says you are not
to be depended on, and this shows it.
and lot of rot
cav, Paulsen is only talking for a !
blind. He won't vote for an Irishman |
nohow. And that's where the hair is |
thin. I heard he said he never knowed |
an Irishman would do good turn to a
German, and he had it from Wade,
who'd knowed you from a boy, that
you was too slick to be honest. Maybe
f you could have got at him yesterday
you might have done something for
him. Mr.. Losing and me. we couldn't
move him.
''Well, IN sorry, said Tommy rue
ully. But he didn't explain why he
missed his train, not even when Alder
nan McGinnis capped Lossing's Il
hink if You promise the chief of police
o a German we may do Something
With, 81 think it's awful to help foolsl'
mo, " thought Tommy. 81 mean to
'e gentleman, and gentleman does
lot brag of being barely decent, and if
'aulsen were to hear of it he'd think |
vas a fool for sure to lose my train
hat way" And these mixed motives
him to say, 81 missed that
rain doing a kindness to somebody if
on must know, and that's all there is
bout it.
Alderman McGinnis drew a long, sad
Ugh from the depths beneath his glossy
hirt front NOnly tell ma il ain,t n |