El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-08-10
By Mary Rinehart.

AA< Wilson stopped in the act
of fitting his latch-key
into the lock, and peered into the dark
ness of the hall. Thomson drew the
heavy overcoat round him and kicked
his feet together in a futile attempt to
warm them.
f'AIeiou."
There was no mtstaking it this time.
Wilson struck a match and looked
about him. Close TO the door there
crouched a grey cat, Ats coat crusted
with ice and snow, its tail dropping
dismally.
The bachelor apartment which they
shared was warm and comfortable
Pussy expanded genially in the heat
and warmth of the sitting room, and
curled up confidently in the most com
Portable chair, where, to Thomson's Sc
cret amusement, Wilson covered her
with his dressing gown before he re-
tired.
liam. the house factoturn, Knocked at
the door.
'-AlI right" was the response
Shall 7 bring some soda ?" Williams
voice was discretly lowered.
Yes, Willjam7 Wilson was wide
awake now. And I say. William, can
you bring Mr.. Thomson glass of
miIk?'
AS William retreated down the hall,
creaking establishment at every step,
Thomson turned savagely to Wilson.
You lunatic, what in creation made
you say I wanted the warm milk? It's
a wonder you didn't order bottle apd
a rubber tube
Wilson smothered a laugh in his pill
low.
Who brought the cat in. you or II"
he asked. "Ar right, William, just put
it on the table in the hail.
Thomson got up. and in bath robe and
slippers went into the sitting room,
while Wilson, from his bed, gazed at
the photograph of girl over the man
telshelf. and unused dejectedly.
Holy smoke Thomson's voice came
George, how many cats did I bring in
last night?"
Wilson reluctantly interrupted his
melancholy train of thought.
One he said.
well, there are six here noww
six, the. dickens,'
Wilson sprang out of bed and hurried
into the adjoining room True enough,
there were six five of them very tiny
and Of varying shades of black. white
and yellow, the sixth large, gray and
Wilson laughed at Thomson's dismayed
countenance. The milk was brought
in, but the cat-by common consent
christened Eliza. after Mrs. Higgins
refused the glass. However, upon her
breakfast being presented to her in the
nickel plated soap dish from the bath
room, she condescended to take it.
Both men were long overdue at their
place of business before the question
f11f17
then, only her immediate disposal was
settled. it being proposed to lock her.
with her family, in the large bathroom
cupboard until the leisure Of the follow
ing day. Sunday, would admit of
search for permanent home among
their friends.
Sunday morning breakfast was
usually sent up, and served by William
in the den. As Eliza awakened vocif-
erously hungry, her joint owners gave
her the contents of the cream jug and
drank black coffee in gloomy silence.
This settles it, Wilson put his cup
down with a bang. THAT cat and her
rainbow hued progeny leave this place
this morning. / won't put in another
"a hours like this if I can help it."
And Wilson proceeded in dignified
silence to change his house coat for
his street attire. That done, he placed |
Eliza and her family in a suit case
and strapped it up.
He shut the door in Thomson's as
founded face and went nonchalantIy /
down the stairs.
neWsboy across the street doubled !
up over his papers and shook with !;
laughter. Wilson looked down at the I
suit case and stopped to replace a long |
sinuous tail that waved in slow anger /
through the air hole.
It was church time, but the bus he I,
took, bound for the suburbs, was al +
most empty
Directly across young lady was sit |
ting, her eyes fixed with fascinated |
on the advertising card just /
over his head. The position was a |
strained one. In the nature of things,