El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-08-10
The HeraId's
Daily Short Story
The Adoption OF Eliza

Wilson reasoned. she VIII have to look
down in time. and
Good morning. Miss Hardy" he said
| genially. On your way to church, L
| suppose?"<
A long, wailing cry came from the
suit case. Wilson coughed until his
/ throat was raw, and the rattle and jar
of the bus being in his favor had some
| hope that he had ec4ipsed Eliza
Yes" Miss Hardy answered. when
| Wilson's paroxysm had subsidized Are
you going out Of town."
For day rso.' Wilson lied hope
| FULLY. I'm going on a hurried business
matter
''Indeed!" Miss Hardy arched her
pretty eyebrows. But isn't this the
wrong direction for any Of the railway
stations?"
Wilson braced himself and met the
blow.
Look here. Miss Ethel I'm not
going away at all The truth fs"-then
inSpira tion-''my laun6ress lives just
outside of the city. and 1 don't mind
telling you, in confidence, that I'm TAX
ing some washing out to her She
couldn't come in, poor soul. Her hus-
band fell downstairs this week and
broke some ribs-and the children have
scarlet fever"
Mercy" Miss Hardy moved away
along the bus seat How awful. Are
you not afraid
"Oh, not at ALL, airily 'I think the
danger of contagion is much overrated-"
Miss Hardy signaled the conductor
and rose.
DO be careful OF the scarlet fever"
she said. Are you going much fur
ther?"
"A couple ofsmiles or So" said Wilson
shamelessly
The bus started slowly. turned cor
ner, travelled hundred feet and
stopped.
"An change" shouted the conductor.
and the bus emDtied itself Wilson got
up and went out 10 the step.
Look here he said. confidentially
to the conductor, Il suppose I don't need
to tell you what I've got in that suit
case?''
Cat, sir?" and the conductor grinned-
"Cat! Cats. six Of them! Do you
know any place in this neighborhood
where I could find this family homer?
The conductor took off his gloves
and blew on his fingers. Ike" he call
ed to the driver, do you know anyone
near here who wants cat?"
Cats corrected Wilson.
Il should think not grunted the
driver.
Better take them back to town. sir"
said the conductor sympathizingly.
There's no place where they buy
them for the fur
Wilson groaned, and going back into
the bus, gazed murderously at the suit
case The conductor pulled the bell
cord twice, and with a creaking of the
wheels the bus started back to town
It turned the corner, and paused. Look
ing up. Wilson was electrified to see
Miss Hardy enter When she caught
cf,o r,oI TI1r
but walking unsteadily the length Of
the vehicle, she sat down beside him.
They must have been short miles"
she said severely.
No shorter than your church serv-
ice He was cool enough now. Look
here, Ethel Hardy, you didn't come out
here to go TO church, and 1 didn't
come to see my laundress. The woman
with the Affections was a myth. If
confess. will your"
Certainly, although 1 need only con-
fess to a human desire to know what
you are going to do with the cat"
cat. Then you knew"
4 could scarcely help il, with six
inches of gray tail waving out of that
you saw me- But when we had come
so far. and you showed no sign of get
ting off, I had to-"
Wilson looked suddenly down
Through the air hole stubby black /
tail was dangling listlessly. With
sudden rmination he picked up the
case and opened it.
How sweetI' exclaimed Miss Hardy.
''Why I do believe it is my poor lost
Eliza,'
Il can't tell you how glad I am to
find Eliza again. L adore cats, al |
though mother dfslikes them. But they |
look so domestic, lying on the hearth !
rug
Wilson leaned over to her tenderly.
Ethel he said softly, eff you'll pro- |
vide Eliza. TIL provide the hearth rug"
Dear Eliza" Miss Hardy stopped |
over and patted the suit case lovingly. !
II think that she really deserves a new
rug"