Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-13
A MEAN ENGLISH CUR.
WOl1Oped by Old Pussy Jane, He Treas
ure~ up His Revenge, Gets Her at a
Disadvantage and Fatally Bites Her
in the Back.

1t was cat. Just a plain, common tabby
cat, lying peaceful in death in the gutter. The
left paw was still poised, as if the fell destroyer
had overtaken tabby just us she was about to
hit out fiercely from the shoulder; the lips were
drawn as If CONCEALED with the frost of fatality
III the midst of an angry yeaoul, and the hair
along her curved spine yet retained its per-
pendicuiarity; but from the eyes the light of
passion had faded, and all about the towsled
carcass hung the dreaded air of death. In the
small of the back were marks of teeth and q
few drops of blood had oozed out. Yes, tabby
was dead. AS THE STAR man stood waiting
for the car he looked down regretfuily at the
Inud-stained corpse OF the departed feline, and
turned 10 see who it was that had come up with
1aiterlng steps beside him. 1t was an old man
With cane and bad cough.
Poor plss, said the old man, as he coughed
softly and put out his cane to turn the carcass
over. You fought well, but they were too
much for you" There was touch of sadness
and u suggestion of tenderness in the old mans
voice that caused the reporter to ask him how
The old gentleman had three brief spells of
coughing before he could reply. "Jane was the
Samest piece of cat-fesh this side of Philadel-
phy,' he said at last land didn't take no nom
sense from any dog in the neighborhood Why,
that cat, single-handed, would clean out q
tU mob Of ornery ours, and often she did it,
100 les. Indeedy. She was holy terror when
she lifted her back hair and shook her claws
out from under her skin, and the dogs had
PiV.ty hAutA 10 Keep III Il respectful
lance and let her have free range and all the
sidewalk when she was on promenade. And
she d rather fight any time than steal cream.
Yes, indeedy. Indeed would she,'' and again
the old gentleman interrupted the How Of his
narrative TO cough in an easy, stereOty ped way
that didn't seem to do any harm to his lungs
and had no visible results whatever
why he continued, "I've seen Jane git IN
from her after.dinner nap on the front room
stop dog fight. Yes, sir she did that and the
dogs seemed to lose all interest in the difficulty
when 1t was discovered that Jane was on deck.
They Just quietly adjourned the question over
ana scattered without any pretense at cere-
mony. A year ago last February-Jane was
five years old in April-the doctor down the
avenue there got new dog. a sort of dude dog
whose nose Was druv back into his face and his
ears chawed off close to his head. He was q
had a good deal of fight in him, but was awfuiiy
fresh. The second day he was let loose on the
street he ran afou of Jane. She had captured
the corner OF the parking. The dude marched
over looking as consequential as major
general, with a blue ribbon around his neck
ana natty maroon plush blanket on Jane
looked up sort o. quizzica!-like us the dog got
near her She didn't let OF she noticed him
the bones of that English sparrow.
And, dye know, think Jane had perticler
DISLIKE for anything English. Now, that dog
acted so cussed ornery with him. She never
said u word until he got right up onto her. He
stood for a minute Vaughn his tail, and then let
-
pult. Jane was there however and he shot
back again with another yeIp about three o.
taves higher, and without his blue ribbon and
q section OF his left ear. Now, any common cat
would have been satisfied with this and would
have turned tail and scudded. But Jane didn't
and that's one , reason why think she had a
periIcler dislike for anything English She
just jumped on that unfortunate do. with all
fours. ripped his blanket all to shreds, and took
patches out OF his hide big as your two
fingers. Then what was left Of that dog scooted
out for his house like blunt streak of light
ming, just making the air jump with his yelps
"But how did Jane come to get killed at last9"
the reporter asked, as the old gentleman stopped
to give his cough chance and change his cane
TO his right hand.
at wa, all along of that dog He never forgot
the terrible laceratin' Jane gave him, and he
never forgave it. When Jane around,
however, he seemed to have business at home:
but | could see he was nursn' his hatred and
meant to be revenged: Finally, about two
months ago, he formed an alliance with two
other ours, and the three always hunted to-
gether. Jane wasn't afraid of them, and don't
you think she was. She never let them inter-
gave them the right OF way: no fndeedy. But I
felt that she wasn't safe, and kept her in the
house as much as could. 1 knew that dog
that 'ud nurse his revenge as long as that pug
had would down her by foul means il he
couldn't by fair. And he did. Jane was get
ting old and wasn't as spry she used to be-
either, and she'd had Inflammation of the eyes
all the spring. This afternoon, just before the
itiH, ShC Sisti icu Jul W CfOSS tuc avenue. just
As she got across the parking, near that little
thick bush yonder, saw the two pals OF that
pug maxim for her. Jane for the first time in
her lie, seemed to give way little. She stopped
and backed up little towards the bush hit
ting out now and then to keep the dogs or
shed retreated close up to the bush, both dogs
givin' her all she could do to keep them of.
when out jumped that mean English pug from
the bushes. and quicker n scat grabbed Jane by
the back-there where the blood is. She whirled
around and hit him terrible spat with her
claw, then sort o staggered out to the gutter
fighting the dogs OFF all the way, and then