El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-25
The HeraId's
Daily Short Story
Dawson and Company, DereIicts
CBy Mana spr niger White)

a despairing dereIict upon the shores
of her literary ambitions
To Harriet Kendrick, Dawson was
the great editor OF her dreams Sne
accepted his every suggestion as the
final word, and listened with rcveren-
tial awe to his mild hOmilies on liter
ature ard into her poor starved nature
crept a great affection for the kindly
man who devoted so much Of his time
to her.
As a condemned man breads his exc
cutiOu, so Dawson dreaded the Gay
which he knew must inevitably come
when Harriet Kendrick should see
through his simple pretentions, ana
know him for a failure, struggling,
clinging pltiably to the slender tenure
of his position, instead Of the successful
man she imagined him to be.
1t came sooner than he expected. The
periodical reduction Of the staff gave
him a two weeks notice
For the first time he sighted ana
slashed his work recklessly, hurrylng
to his boarding house. and the poor
room that was his.
He had to pass Harriet KendriCk' s
room on his way TO his own Ihrougn
the closed door came the sound Of hys-
terical sObbing, faint as though the
woman within were trying to stlfIe II,
but still unmistakable sObbing
Dawson didn't hesitate. He knocked
al her door, a loud, hearty knock.
Miss Kendrick keeping as much as
possible in the shadow, tried 10 vel
come him calmly. put out in greeting
q cold hand that trembled violently
and then, suddenly casting all control
to the winds, threw herself into a
rocker, buried her face in her hands
and In feminine parlance' went 10
pieces"
Dawson thanked his stars that the
other bOarders were not due Tor an
other hour. and that Mrs. Grady was
safe iu the kitchen. He knelt down
by the side Of the rocker and drew her
head to his shoulder
Tell me all about II, my dear" The
little mans voice was husky. Maybe
can see a way OUT
There is no way out" The words
came despairlngly after Harriet Ken
drick had hushed her sObs and drawn
primly away. I'm a failure, that's
all But I want you TO know before
I go away that I appreciate the trouble
and time YOU have spent with me, you,
who are so successful"
Harriet" Little DawsOn's voice
was impassiOned, protesting Il have
deceived YOU dear, not actively, but
passively. by letting a fiction stand. /
am not the editor OF the GlObe-that Is
all Mrs. Grady's imagination I am
not Of any importance on the paper
The small position I have will be mine
only two weeks longer then I win be
that most unhappy man. the JOB hunt
or am a worse failure than YOU.
my dear We are two derelicts tOgeth-
eT but If YOU are willing. let us join
]
thing to offer any woman two week s
job, a few dollars in the bank. enough
to ensure me a decent burial but God
my girl. I believe. If you'll have me
We'u win out at least a living yet"
Have your murmured Miss Ken
drick. "Oh" and she reached out her
hands. only to snatch them away again,
as Mrs. Grady numbered up the stairs
with a telegram.
Miss kendrick opened Il, then sank
into a chair, trembling violently.
MY uncle is dead" she said simply.
Poor uncle Joe, and then. as realiZa-
ton came to her she sprang TO her
feet
Mr. Dawson she cried-nOt vet
could Harriet Kendrick call her lover
By his Christian name-'I believe here
IS a way out Uncle Joe had no re1a-
tives but me and while all ne had in
the world Is that old fashioned print
ing office and a tiny house and yard
and garden yet IL is all mine. 1t would
do me no good alone for I never could
manage il and it would bring very
little If put UP for sale"
"A country newspaper with a place
Of our own where I can tinker around
garden after the work is done and
we can work together-my dear it's the
dream OF my life come true"
He swung her to her feet and put
his arms around her.
Here's to the success Of Dawson and
company, dereliCts," said Dawson, as
he kissed her.