The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1910-10-08
With Cupid at the Bat
By CATHERINE n. PATTERSON

uaIIy.
Put me down. please" said Phyllis
haughtily.
Il certainly shall, with pleasure.
when get you into the house, gasp
ed the heavily breathing MIR. Caroth-
ers as he stumbled up the veranda
steps.
"sir. you are rude
''Mademoiselle, you are heavyl But
enough of this unpleasantness, open
ing the screen door. getting himself
and his burden through with diff
Guilty, and letting the door swing to
just In time to catch the tip end of
pussy's tail as she hobbled painfully
In. wall of anguish Immediately
announced a fresh calamity.
Suffering cats. what have l done
now?" asked the startled Mr.. Caroth-
ers, almost dropping Phyllis
That young woman suddenly burst
into hysterical laughter.
Back up a little and I'll open the
door and release the poor thing
Your words bore truth, sir, and were
wrong in only one particular. There
is only one suffering cat, you see. It's
horrid of me to laugh, know. but
can't help it. Indeed 1 can't.
Tabby by this time had been re-
leased. Phyllis leaned forward In
Carothers' arms and running her fin
gers along the wall pressed two but
tons, turning on the light in the broad
hall and living room.
Put me on the couch, please" said
the girl.
Delighted to oblige you," said Mr..
Carothers, depositing the victim of
his ball and bat with a sigh OF relief.
81 know I'm not a fairy, but you
needn't be rude enough to tell me
about it every five seconds. SAID
Phyllis petulantly.
Where's your aunt?" asked Ca
rothers abruptly.
"Out visiting a neighbor. Other
WISE" with laugh, T. should not
have dared to be down in that end of
the garden"
ooh, l see," said her companion
with a grin that seemed to make the
footing of these tow still more that
of good friends and comrades. Then
where is the maid"
Out" was the brief reply.
Phyllis was enjoying herself i'm
mensely. Her good-looking neighbor
was the cause of all this trouble and
could get himself out of his present
| difficulties without assistance from
her.
Great Scott, what next?" asked
John Carothers, as he mopped his
perspiring brow. where is the tele-
| phone? I can call the doctor at
! least"
Mr.. Carothers, to his extreme re-
lief, found the doctor in and he prom
ised to come to the rescue at once.
| Dr. Billings and Miss Gordon arrived
at the garden gate at the same time,
and it was an excited and alarmed
Aunt Jane who rushed into the house.
She was too agitated, when Carouth-
ers was presented to her, to be any
thing but civil to him, and later when
she suddenly realized who he was, it
was too late Tabitha, seeing Miss
Gordon, made a painful descent from
her refuge and went to her mistress,
who, when she saw the predicament
her pet was in, left her niece to the
| tender mercies of the doctor
'T told you that the cats injuries
were more important than yours, %
said Carothers with grin.
DR.. Billings had finished his exam
nation of Phyllis's foot by the time
Carothers had returned to the living
room to learn that the patient was
! suffering from nothing more serious
than a badly bruised instep which
would compel her to remain on her
couch for a week or ten days. Phyllis
had made a wry face at the verdict.
And as for Tabitha. she would re-
cover.
AS Carothers bent over Phyllis to
say good night she whispered:
I've set Aunt James mind at rest
I've told her-well, several things
but not just exactly what happened.
You keep STILL" as Carothers at
tempted to speak. you see. you must
not tell her anything because your
confession will implicate me. I dis
obeyed orders. you know"
Just the same, l don't like sailing
under false colors." said Carothers,
frowning. 'It was all my fault and I
want Miss Gordon to know it"
We'll, she isn't going to to know it
and I forbid you to say anything
about it," said Phyllis, sternly
"As a compensation will you let me
come every day to see how you are
| getting along?"
I'll think you are quite rude and
heartless if you don't do that" re-
! turned Phyllis.
And as Aunt Jane tragically re-
marked to a friend, into whose ears
she poured the tale of her niece's
betrothal to one Of the haterd tribe Of
! Carothers, that was the beginning
of the end