The daily sentinel., 1907-07-20
AND THE CAT
REMAINED

ty-dfth street The gates OF down
town elevated train were half closed
when an old woman with sparse gray
hair ana deeply scanned cheeks placed
one foot on the car platform. The
satsluau tried 10 close tie gate, but
she Was half way on. He gave vent
to some unuttered words expressive of
his dfspleAsure. to which the old wom-
an paid no attention. She fairly fell
down on her seat. for the exertion had
been too much for her In a little
while. when she had recovered her
breath. she glanced about her in a
furtive way Having apparently salts
fed herself that no one was watching
her with a special purpose, she hug
ged up TO her breast a disreputable
old nun which had weathered some
winters and gave bold evidence of a
close acquaintance with the moth fam
ily. Indeed. there were only tufts of
fur here and there, but the article
served its purpose. Every one won
1ered. however. why the poor old wom-
an with her thin form and worn-out
dress was so attached to it.
Finally the muff answered these
| questions of its own account, for just
before the train had reached the next
station a plaintive Meow" was watt
ed on the air to the ears of the guard
who stood near. The old woman fair
ly shriveled with guilt, for she knew
that no animals were permitted there.
To make matters worse, the first cat
call was followed by a series Of more
emphatic ones-protests regarding the
I-f, ,F Ho gfFf
This was too much. The passengers
laughed and the guard came angrily
upon the scene of action. All eyes
were directed toward the old wom-
an, and to her he addressed his re-
marks in choice English.
Who's got the cat?" he demand
ed. Silence, while all waited de
velopments.
The cat answered for herself in
heart-rending tones, which, however,
had not the slightest effect on the
man. She stuck out her head and
/ proved to be old and poor, like her
mistress Besides, she had only one
eye
See here, youse," said the gate
man. threateningly, shaking his fist
in the face of the cats protector,
"youse can get out at the next station,
see?"
"Oh, please, Mr.. Conductor. don't
make me leave" sobbingly pleaded the
old woman. Il know it amt just
right ter bring the cat, but what am
a-goin ter do? l amt got no money
ter hire a carriage. and l was afraid to
send her on the wagon, so there was
nothin' else fer me ter do. You see"
she added appealingly to her listeners,
we're movin' to-day I've had this
cat ten years, and love her like she
was my own child"
Hal hal listen to that" exclaimed
the guard sarcastically Think of the
wasted Affection"
you know" continued the old wom-
an, not noticing him. ''if you had
cat fer ten years, you know what you
would have done"
"Youse ken bet l do" glibly an
swered the man. Inter the river fer
hers Now, see here he said rough
= ly, "out youse go wild der animal
But mister" begged the woman,
'Tve got to go way down town. l can't
walk"
"Youse has heard my orders. on
yer go at the next station Suiting
= the action to the word, for the train
was stopping, he held the gate open
for her to pass out. While the old
woman was trying TO get to her feet a
kind-faced, well-dressed woman pushed
her back into her seat, and walking
up to the guard, said:
She'll do nothing of the sort and
I will see that she stays on this
! car"
Hal" sneered the man, "who are
5 you. and what have you ter do wild
! de case? I'll have youse both ar
rested"
He then tsid a man to bring an of
ficer. While the train waited the
!, argument continued, and the old wom-
ans champion listened to some abu-
n sive language. when suddenly things
e took an interesting turn. A good-na-
tured Irishman stepped aggressively
to the front
What this lady says goes, and If
\ she says the cat stays, it does, and
If it doesn't, I'm here to see that 1t
d Is carried out" he asserted with care
L less disregard for clearness of express
: sion and a threatening display of
a fists.
What's this old woman and her
T. cat to youse?" demanded the guard.
/. "Nothin at all" answered the Irish
. man, but this here lady l do know. 50
Q Then with wink for the lady's bene-
fit alone: She's Mrs. Patchouli, and
It sure it's her husband that's got the
$ power to make you lose yer job. II
. you only knew It, If the cat goes,
you go after it, Understand that.
: The guard concluded that there
n might be some truth in the Irishman S
r. threat Besides. the passengers were
y complaining about the delay, and no
n policeman appeared.
The train started on its way.
Mrs. Patchouli' left the car at
). Forty-second street and as she did so
the old woman called out: Heaven re-
ward you, ma'am. for what you've done
d this day" And the Irishman said
II Good day, Mrs. Patchouli, Have no
/ fear. foS All stand by until the cat