The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-18
DaffydOWndiIIy
BY EloiSe Thomas

Copyright. 1871. by Associated Literary Prsss)
Did / understand you to say that
you had never called on the people
on the floors above?" inquired young
Mr. Field, with a smile.
His sister-in-law tossed look of ex-
ASPIRATION across the table. Harry"
she demanded, cant you talk of any
thing else when you come. except
these abominable flats? | tell you,
again and again, l 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.
mo, Alice, no" there was reproach
IN 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 roomsl"
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 is it Rebecca? o, but
was going to say-rm positive l saw
Tom was decent enough to take me
out"
Certainly, we had a cat at home. =
returned Mrs. Field, her defensive
alertness giving way to reminiscent
smile. And we always kept the kit
tens Everybody wanted one of Club
by's kittens"
Il don't doubt ii, Alice. And If you
had only had younger sister, now"
Harry sighed Justify, as he caught the
satisfaction in the eyes across the
table.
STILL" meditated his sister-inlaw
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 cold
stove. OF course, Harry, | know you
can be very agreeable"
When don't talk OF fats smil
ingly 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 bacl
fence? Wouldn't that denote thai
somebody else-in your flats has love
for cats?"
oh" exclaimed Mrs. Field, tina
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 al
We get settled for the night If ther'
were nothing else, such unthinkinl
sclfishness would stamp them as I'M
derbred girls And the things II make
Tom say But there are other thing
about them"
Such as suggested Harry,
Well, mod.tated Mrs, Field,
suppose they are not really thing
that one could put ones finger OF
They re sort of bohemian. don't yo
call it?'
Then there's fee1le.minded on
up there, and they're horribly bruts
about her Why. | beard one of then
the artist one think. cali out on tn
stairs one day, Please ask the idiot I
J bring me my umbrella suppos
: she's harmless, but what way
speak of her! | don't want to be |
with such people" she added severed.
pushing back her chair.
There isn't anything else you
like, is there? Don't you want to TAX
: your fruit inlo the parlor? | though
/. I'd run across to see how Edna's bal
3 is. You knew my cousin had move
out here, didn't you? | won't be gor
: but minute
i DO you think Tom would feel thi
I'm properly protecting you, lettir
you go alone?" inquired Harry a
h xously. If anything should happC
4 he'd never forgive me; and | W;
: thinking supposing those girls |
stairs were to call while you're out
s Call" caught up Alice Cal
/. Why I've told you 80 times that ~
o never called on them You needT
/. be afraid of that"
n She's a mighty fine little woman
l. he confided to the pyEmid OF grape
Il as he dropped into the depths of Il
@ parlor easy chair. and she suits TOI
but prefer a girl who catches on to
I thing or two, like Edith-a-Miss Du
G can"
t Suddenly he slapped his knee, al
+ Rugged himself Then he got up, al
n walked rapidly through to the kitche
a When does Mrs Field general
J. get in. Rebecca?" he inquired affabl
It AT 8, Mr.. AIRY, sir. On the tic,
u it's over to Mrs. Morse's she's wei
It sir. On account of the baby, sir. Nj
= Morse don't sit up late.
v On the tick" of 8, Harry beg
some queer maneuvers. He shut al
Il locked the sliding doors into the s
q ting room, darted across to the cha
Z. in the corner, dived down behind
rushed to the door that led into Il
I hall, and stood, expectant with b
q hand on the knob When he heard
q sister-in-law's voice outside sayil
something about mullins" he open,
- the door cautiously.
Alice" he whispered, come in"
Why, what is it, she demand,
, with difficulty squeezing through Il
!, narrow opening, and turning disten
:, ed eyes upon the tense figure brac,