Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-05-30

scared, hunted expression of the eyes
had given place to one of serene, medi-
| tative contentment-
| Shockie had many favorite hooks
| about the office. One be was very fond
| of, but it caused Hughey much anxiety.
| This was the little shelf beside the
| pneumatic-tube box which communi-
Gated with the uptown office of the pa
per. Shockie took deep and early in
terest in this machine, and used to
| love to watch the ather missiles, bear
ing their little folded messages, snap
like shot into the brass box. When
Hughey opened its small glass
window and took out the projectiles
Shockie. as he sat on the shelf, would
tilt his little black head On one side
and look over Hughey's shoulder to see
that he left no scraps behind. Another
favorite perch was the desk of the dra-
matte editor. The dramatic editor
never got il until after eleven o'clock,
at least; usually it was later, depend
ing, of course, upon the time the the
tiers let out. The desk stood IN far
corner in soothing half darkness,
which the light of the electric bulbs
over the night editors and the copy
readers desks beyond just penetrated.
Here, in couchant repose, in soft,
dreamy purrings. Shockie would watch
the movements of the men across the
room and dose away until the dramatic
editor came in and aroused him with
a gentle stroke along his smooth fur
Then Shockie would slowly gather
himself up, arch his sleek back, curve his
tail once or twice, and, springing soft
" down, start noiselessly patrolling
the mouse-walk along the passageway
leading to the rooms of the editorial
writer's Shockie, when he first began
to get acquainted about the office, used
to like the desk of the music critic; but
Shockie and the music critic did not
get on together.
But, though Shockie made friends
with almost the whole Office, he had
one distinct preference-Hughey. It
was to Hughey he crept when discon-
solate at the deSolate condition of the
mouse-walk, and it was Hughey only
who knew where to find the juicy
meat morsel; and none knew Shockey
and his ways so well as Hughey. He
had watched his growth with pride,
and at every fresh accomplishment
Shockie acquired felt positive thrill
of pleasure. One day, clearing up, he
found secreted in Shockie's favorite
hiding place a long column strip of
newspaper. A glance told him it was
the portion of the space" from one of
the reporters last weeks bill. At first
he was puzzled to know why Shockie
had fancied it. For" said Hughey.
that cat knows what he's about As
he held the strip upside down he turned
it over to look at its heading. and
cry escaped him as he read: More
About the Cat Home"
THERE he said, resting on the
broom. That cats nose for news is
developin'."
So Shoclxie grew and waxed strong,
exhibiting each day faculties for ac
quiring knowledge, so Hughey
thought, quite unparalleled in ali the
history of journalistic catdom. There
was the Bumbleton Record, with its
ten-year-old office cat. it was true; but
then Hughey was quite certain that
that cat, which had been known to
GO to sleep when the whole Office was
stirred to unusual energy by the burn
ing of the big hotel just opposite,
never had the least bit of journalistic
instinct; and to see Shockie cuddle up by
the mucilage cup on the dramatic ed
itor's desk was sight, he thought,
quite capable of making the night ed
itor of that busting daily sick with
envy. Indeed, so mad Shoclkie thrived
that Hughey had begun to think he
might almost trust him to take care of
the sassy" messenger boys at the
window. This last thought took a
deep hold upon Hughey, for he mo-
ticed they had quite . respect for