Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-01-07
A VALUABLE CAT.
The Feline Protector of q Lone
Old Lady.
How the Intelligent Animal Dispossd %
Psir Of Midnight Marauders
who Were on Mischief
Bent.

An old lady living alone In large and
dreary house In the western suburbs
has Just told some OF the neighbors Of
an attempt TO bulgarize her house a few
nights ago and the marvellous manner
In which the attempt was thwarted,
Gays n Denver correspondent OF the st.
Louis Globe. Democrat. The woman Is
well known TO possess considerable
money, as the income from her property
far exceeds her simple expenses, and,
as she has n horror Of banks, II Is the
general impression that she keeps the
money somewhere about the house. She
Is quite alone, except for a servant
woman, who comes in tho morning and
does the work, returning 10 her home at
night. There Is not even dog on the
place, the old lady having the greatest
antipathy for them. She Is apparently
unprotected through the night, but
events have proved that she is pre- tty
we'll guarded after all. She Is always
followed by an enormous cat, brindle
and white, rejoicing in the name OF
Dot. lie we ighs at least sixteen pounds,
and always attracts n great deal Of at
tention on account Of his size, but he al-
lows no one to touch him but his mis-
tress.
On several occasions, when dogs have
strayed into tho premises, Dot has at
tackled them with such fury as 10 send
them bowling and bleeding from the
place. Dots mistress has just told the
story which shows that Dot is as brave
as n lion, and that he has great pres
ence OF mind. THE other night" she
says, II wasn't feeling we'll, and went
10 bed as soon as the servant left.
sleep upstairs In the south room. Be
fore going 10 bed / went all round be-
low stairs, and fastened every door and
window, Just as always do. Dot was
sleeping on my bed, Just rs he always
has done all his life. Away in the night
made, and found when put my hand
on him that he had raised his head and
was listening, trembling all over, he
was so nervous. thought he heard a
rat, and was about 10 go 10 sleep again
when he sprang TO his feet and stood
beside me, growing once very low.
Then listened too, and | dis
tinctly heard stealthy footsteps creep
Ing up the stairs. was so frightened
that smotherinR sensation came
over me, and came near dying right
there. In all the years had lived
there alone such thing had never hap
pcncd before could hear the stealthy
footsteps come up To the top Of the
stairs, and then hand went feeling
along the wall for the door Of my room.
Directly he found the door, and then
the hand went feeling for the latch,
and, having found IL, turned IL slowly
slowly, and the door opened. knew
well enough that was going to be
ldlled-that would be murdered in a
few minutes, but could not move or
even scream. Just lay there as though
| were dead. heard the feet begin 10
move slowly, softly across the floor to-
ward my bed, and soon he was touch
Ing the bed, and closed my eyes, cx-
pccting the final blow. And just at that
moment Dot made an awful leap, and |
am sure he must have landed square on
that mans head, for Of all the wild yells
that ever came from mortal throat
that was the worst. Dick! Dick! Come
an help. Tho DEVILS got me" he
screamed, ard ran for tho door. Dot
jumped OF, but the man must have
been blinded with blood, for he missed
his footing at the top and fell down the
whole flight, At the bottom Dot pounced
upon him again, and when his comradc
ran to his assistance Dot gave him n
taste, and heard him swear that the
whole top OF his head was torn of.
The first rubbcr was carried out groan,
ing by way Of the cellar window.
didn't notify tho police. ! didn't think
II was necessary I don't know how
they faind out how everything in the
house was situated, and don't care.
They won't try II again"