El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-29
(By Frank Hover Evans)

" HANKS. but I don't THINK l want
any rugs today"
- MALTA andogou-
XII, Englfs good man." appeared to be
the answer.
Now. look here" I said, speaking
very distinctly in the hope that he
would understand, 81 don't want your
rug. and 1 don't want any OF the Per
sian OF Arabian bad language which l
believe you are hurting at me. VIII
you please go2'
moved towards the gate. and he
followed, repeating a long and unln-
teiligible sentence with occasional oe-
clarations of "Englis good man."
"Once more 1 said. will you please
go? You're nice, picturesque person.
I'll admit. but you'd suit the landscape
much better if you were at the bottom
of the street Here's sixpence, and
now do 60"
He clutched the sixpence, ana was
trying to follow me up the path Wnen
my wife came up laden with parceis.
"Whoever's this?" she asked
some INDECENT eastern tradesman,
believe, my dear, who will not under
stand that there is. no inv1tation 10
dine and sleep with u.s..
poor fellow he does look cold ana
miserable Haven't you got an old
overcoat you could give him.?
She had scarcely spoken when tine
wanderer fell at her feet, kissed the
hem OF. her dress, and placed her foot
on his head.
The effect of this latter act was
rather spoilt by Elias fear that she
was going to be upset and the imprint
of her muddy boot on the PROSTATE
ones forehead.
"Now. isn't that picturesque. said
Ella. That's the Eastern act of nom
age and submission! He must have
something to eat after that"
The dark skinned gentleman wtas
still kneeling somewhat uncomfortabIy
as 1 thought, on the damp gravel, and
he made another frantic grab for Elias
foot.
.Don't let him do that again, dear,
will your" she pleaded It's all very
well in Arabia, or is it Araby. where
they have sand. but don't want to fall
into a puddle"
Bismi1aheIradanalla
Englis good man. came the greeting,
with a low salaam to Ella
Il wonder whether that's Arabic or
what? The poor fellows evidently try
ing to sell thee rug to pay his passage
back" said Ella.
well, I've made good sporting Of
fer of twopence, and now think he'd
better CO. The people opposite are at
their windows"
'eNonsensel We're going to give the
poor man something to eat How would
you like to be in Araby, or Arabia,
without knowing a word Of the Ian
guage. or friend IN the "hoie OF the
desert?"
"AlI right. send him to the kitchen;
but he's not going to have any over
coats or dress clothes Of mine-that's
understood Come along, Bismillah."
Ella led the way to the back door,
followed by her protege.
Good Tor, mum, whatever's that?'
asked Jane ERE get away and leave
my feet alone, will ye?"
Bismallah rose abashed and injured.
for in his anxiety to place James foot
on his head he hit the scraper, and
didn't seem to like it.
Give him a good tea. Jane" said
Ella. Let him get quite warm and
dry, land then well hunt up some Of
masters old clothes, and send the poor
fellow away happy"
I waited to hear no more. but silent
ly and secretly 1 hurried upstairs and
locked all the drawers in my dressing
room and hid all my boots.
By some extraordinary chance, when
ever my wife wants to be charitable
she always manages to seize upon my
best clothes, declaring afterwards that
she thought they were rags
When I went downstairs I found the
rug displayed on chair.
How much did you give him for
it, I asked.
Nothing The poor fellow seemed
so grateful for what he had had that
he insisted on my taking 1t and when
1 offered him money he refused 1t.
Dark, and perhaps unworthy, suspi-
cions crossed my mind that Bismillah
was a man of guile, and I decided to
hint to the policeman at the corner
that Arabian gentlemen with Manches-
ter rugs were of no use to me.
wei, I hope he's gone without the
spoons, anyway suggested
"Oh, we couldn't turn the poor fell
low out It's pouring with rain, and
I'm sure he's nowhere to sleep, and he
can have a rug in the attic. You don't
mind. do you dear?"
Certainly not; but perhaps he'd pre-
fer an outdoor pension
After supper strange and nerve
racking sounds were waited up form
the kitchen, as of some animal with
a sudden and dangerous illness.
Great Scott Whatever's that?" ]
said
perhaps it's the mice" replied Ella,
who firmly believed that every sound
in the house can be traced to these
little creatures.
"Of course; 1 never thought of that.
They always sing like that I'll try
and catch one"
FASTENED down to the kitchen, fol-
lowed at a respectful distance by Ella.
With a smile of idiotic happiness
Jane sat entranced, while opposite TO
her sat Bismillah, bowling away at
some interminable and tuneless tune.
ct 'ypnotizes me, sir" said Jane,
fair 'pynotizes me, that's what it does
I never card nothin' like it since last
'arVeSt ONE"