Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-21

II.
"'Tisn't a child. but it's mighty dis-
tressin'. anyways" said the man, ana ne
listened. Then another man, VINO nau
hem lounging against a trec-Dox, saio'
"Nup; faint no kid.
"Wbat Is III" asked the workinsman.
at bearn II across the street, and III
fetched me up" replied the ionnger'
'Iidn't know 'xactiy what II mougnt pe.
Sometimes ] fancies hears strange
noises. not actooal noise, see! reg luz
soul-creepin' sounds. kind Of unearthiy.
They gives NE the shlvers. Ougn'
The possibi tiles of the lounger sniVerihg
of a cold night from actual causes were
good. because he wore tnreadbare and
tat,ered summer-clots ing. He ousnt, ho"-
ever. 10 nave equalized his personal tenn
perature, because his face looked not, ma
nose being Of fiery redness.
II sounds ilke-ike cat said the
worxinsman. hesitatingiy
"Caf! Bully for you. That's what II
is. It's great satisfaction for f-iier
20 know percisely what he does near anu
what ne don't. Sabey'
ITS a cat" said the workingman. now
positively. "She must have tumbled down
into a sewer. X sounds as II 1t were
under ground"
The two men crossed Fulton street
and, led by the cries. reached the cor
ner Of Troy avenue and Herkimer streets
where they stopped. There was sewer
there. The lounger got down on his knees
in the gutter and peered into the dark
opening Of the sewer. The presence OF
some one seemed to excite the cat for a
cat IL was. The poor creature sent forth
now her entire repertoire Of anguish,
her pItful beseechlngs for rescue. The
los, hfa head q linn md
shapeiess felt hat, next scratched his
head, as IL immersed in thought, and
said:
Wonder II milk wouldn't fetch her:
put heart into her? Cats takes TO milk
as does humans to rum" Evidently, the
lounger was philosophlzing Cats and
men," he continued, has strange ma
lures Then he added, refiectiyely: II
remember my mammy's cat. Turtle-shell
variety. wild sour-apple green eyes. Just
the incest cat as ever was; and wunst,
when | was a-foolin' wild her. she
scratched me from me shoulder to me
wrist. l wasn't much bigger than a kitty
myself. Dem was happy times See
here mister that thar cat down thar
has got to be saved. Seer
Eyes; that's all well enough; but how?
/ can't fool here long with cat. My
work in a-waitin' for me-" said the other.
Just then two young men came up and
stopped They looked as If they had left
some party They had on white ties and
standing-collars. The two young men
had very much used-up and languid
manner. They probably had been up late
for many successive nights In the year.
The lounger's oratory seemed to amuse
them. They took in the situation at
once. They peeled off their kid gloves,
folded them up neatly, and slowed them
away carefully In their oyercoat pockets.
1t was perhaps a preparation for action.
The cat kept on with her heart-rending
yowling. The young fellows started down
the sewer.
Says /. gentlemen, that there cat has
gol to be saved. by - II is not ne
cessary TO be precise as to the way the
lounger rounded up the major part Of his
phrdsings.
"Of course, of coursel' said the two
young men, simultaneously. But would
you permit me to ask howy'' inquired one
OF them. There Is the grating, and we
must lift that up. so that the cat can
find an exit Suppose we were to try and
lift that gratingy'
THAT seems sensible" said the work.
ngman, putting down his dinner-pail.
"Lets."
Then the four logged at the grating. 1t
was either rusty or had been damned. ana
would not bulge.
"Heave, no. my heartes.' cried the
lounger, at the top of his voice Alto
gether, now Bust her open, my beauties. "
See, here, you, over there; what are
you givin' US, bothering' with that sewer?
Come out OF that, and quick" Ii was
the gruff voice Of a sergeant-of-police on
his rounds.
IT'S a cat officer; a cat down the
sewer" said one OF the young men.
ooh. a catl Sure. it's a cat?'' inquired
the officer Then the policeman took In
the situation at glance. He caught hold
Of the grating, and now there were five
men at work. trying to save one poor cat
Still the grating did not bulge. The cat
excited by the hubbub was crying now
more bitterly than ever.
The policeman, in consideration of his
municipal authority. without any dissent
on the part of his aids. now assumed en-
tire command of the rescuing squad. But
the grating hung fast. Then the police
man raped with his club. and. In trice,
there came hurrying up TWO more po-
licemen, arriving from opposite direc-
tions. The seven lugged and strained,
and. at last, up came the grating. The
lounger was on MS knees IN the Street
again.
II sees her, by the light of her eyes,
a-paddling around, a-swimmin for dear
life. but she's full ten feet down" said
the lounger, now fat on his stomach in
the street. Then one OF the young men
who had a domelike head. with hair
neatly parted on it, had a luminous
thought.
II don't live far from here. A clothes
pole might be found available"
The clothes-poe idea was received with
favor by the crowd, for now there were
at least twenty persons around the sewer
Ii was beautiful 10 see the sudden alac-
rity on the part of the dandy young fei-
low. He disappeared on a full run. In
five minutes he was back. sprintins
along with a 15-foot clothes pole on his
shoulder.
THAT'S himr' cried the admring crowd
\ policeman took the clothes pole and
snged for the cat.
"a bit of fish on that pole might tole
her." said some jocuiar person, which
digestion was not well received.
shut up. Smartyw howled the crowd
ilsgusted.
Now she's a-coming said the lounger
and the crowd cheered. Now she's broke
her holt" said the lounger, and the
iookers-on were apparently distressed. Il
was evident that the cacs power Of
clutch would not be available.
"Sumfin's got to be DONE" cried the
lounger, excitedly: IAN that putty DUR
quick" Then he turned to the crowd
Boys, what's this yere I seed at show
wunstY' Then the speaker paused. shu
his eyes as II recalling some incident IN
| the long past "She was a besutifu