The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-05-02
DaffydOWndiIly
BY Eloise Thomas


His sister-in-law tossed a look OF ex
ASPIRATION across the table Harry,
she demanded. cant you talk of any
thing else when you come. except
| these abominable hats7 tell you
again and again. have nothing in
common with any of the people IN
them"
Excuse me- persisted the meek
voice. but I'm positive you have one
thing in common
The back yard!" came an explo
sion Of unspeakable scorn.
No, Alice. no." there was reproach
the tone, Il wasn't thinking of the
back yard this time. | was thinking
of-cats."
Cats! Why. Harry Field, you
know | haven't even the ghost of a
cat, let alone cats. Imagine! Cats
in fiat of six rooms!"
May II Harry reached an apollo
getic hand toward the salad fork.
You do make uncommonly fine
shrimp" he smiled. over an abundant
helping, or Ia 1t Rebecca? o, but ]
was going to say-Im positive | saw
cat at your house those few times
Tom was decent enough to take me
out"
Certainly. we had a cat at home.
returned Mrs. Field, her defensive
alertness giving way to a reminiscent
smile. And We always kept the kit
tens Everybody wanted one of Club.
by's kittens"
II don't doubt 1t, Alice And If you
had only had a younger sister. now"
Harry sighed Justify, as he caught the
satisfaction In the eyes across the
table.
Still" meditated his sister-in-Iaw,
Il don't know that should have liked
her to marry an editor. and you say
that's what you're going to be. You
might turn out to be irritable like your
Uncle Bob. You know yourself, he
has spells of being as glum as a cold
stove or course. Harry. know you
can be very agreeable
"Wher / don't talk of fats" smll
iHgly interrupted Harry. That re
minds me: was about to say-not
that you have cats In common, but
rather love of cats. What about the
big yellow one I've seen on the back
fence? Wouldn't that denote that
somebody else In your fats has a love
for cats2'
Oh exclaimed Mrs Field, that
big cat belongs to some girls who live
on the top floor. They call 1t Daffy
downdilly, believe At any rate
they're always shrieking. 'Daffy, DAT
fly. Daffy," at the back door, just as
We get settled for the night. If there
were nothing else. such unthinking'
seltishness would stamp them as un
derbred girls And the things it makes
Tom say! But there are other things
about them"
Such as?" suggested Harry
Well" meditated Mrs. Field, 81
suppose they are not really things
that one could put ones finger on
They're sort of Bohemian, don't you
call it?"
Then there's a feeble-minded one
up there, and they're horribly brutal
about her Why, heard one of them
the artist one | think, call out on the
stairs one day. Please ask the idiot to
bring me my umbrella l suppose
she's harmless. but what a way to
speak of her! | don't want to be in
with such people," she added severely
pushing back her chair
There isn't anything else you'd
like, is there? Don't you want to take
your fruit into the parlor? | thought
I'd run across to see how Ednas baby
is. You knew my cousin had moved
out here, didn't you? | won't be gone
but a minute
DO you think Tom would feel that
I'm properly protecting you, letting
you go alone?" inquired Harry an
xously. If anything should happen
he'd never forgive me; and | was
neutrality-suspicious. those girls up
stairs were to call while you're out"
Call" caught up Alice. Call!
Why, I've told you so times that I've
never called on them! You needn't
be afraid of that"
She's a mighty fine little woman"
he confided to the pyramid OF granes.
as he dropped into the depths of the
parlor easy chair. and she suits Tom
but prefer a girl who catches on to a
thing or two, like Edith-a-Mlss Dun.
can"
Suddenly he slapped his knee. and
Rugged himself Then he got up, and
walked rapidly through to the kitchen
when does Mrs. Field generally
get in. Rebecca?" he inquired affably
AT 9, Mr.. AIRY, sir. On the tic. il
It's over to Mrs Morses she's went
sir. On account of the baby. sir, Mrs
Morse don't sit up late.
"On the tick" of 8, Harry began
some queer maneuyers. He shut and
locked the sliding doors into the sit
ting room. darted across to the chair
in the corner, dived down behind II
rushed to the door that led into the
hall, and stood. expectant, with his
hand on the knob When he heard HE
sister-in.law's voice outside saying
something about mullins" he opened
the door cautiously
Alice" he whispered. come in"
why, what ia it," she demanded
with difficulty squeezing through the
narrow opening, and turning distend
ed eyes upon the tense figure braced
against the door, which had closed
unon har iuatantlv "Whv don't Won