The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-05-01

had my books and horses and dogs
| then, if yearned for that human enig
ma called friendship, there was ole
Watson, who was always glad to Sc,
me at his workshop. A mechanica
genius was he, and, therefore, people
were not far astray in calling him :
'crank." Had there been anything
which he couldn't do with natural
forces, especially with electricity, he
had to but concentrate his powers ant
it WAS done.
Folks talk OF the agony of waiting
for dead peoples shoes. assure you
| never coveted my Aunt Alida's, al
though they We're very real, being felt
as was common with spinsters in those
days. No, | was ready at any time te
toss them after her for good luck and
rood riddance.
Indeed, Aunt Aida and | did not
| care for each other | WAS the skele
| ton at her feast, the mem INTO mori not
only v of her lover, but herself Besides
| she distrusted my sincerity. Iremem
ber, one day when | was visiting her
she looked toward the cat-a great vel
low embodiment of spittire Immortality
named Peter-and sighed.
do you think, Paul" she asked,
that when die it would be well to
have poor Peter chloroformed?"
Had | been candid | would have
quoted the old adage of not putting off
till tomorrow what can be done today,
bat thought to please her.
"No," | replied. lifts wicked to
take life, that were nine times sim"
"You love him them she added,
doubtfully. well, let him go with
everything else"
My father in particular abhorred that
cat. When | mentioned it he would
mutter, ''Thcre's pair of them,' with
out furnishing any chart to his
thought. | often had the PRESENT.
ment that Peter would prove rock"
in my path. Yet what could one do
for cat? Alas! | was soon to ap-
preciate that where theresa will there's
Il way, and vice versa.
My Aunt Aida died, and was buried.
Her funeral was rural success, with
but a single mischance. of course,
rs chief mourner sat at the head of the
the coffin. Hardly had the ceremony
begun, when Peter stalked solemnly
into the room and squatted beside me.
The next day the will was read-a day
full of poignant memories, but most
distinct. | verify believe, because then
for tha first time saw my father smile.
The terms Of that singular document
were the cause, and they were as fol-
lows: The entire estate was left to me,
excepting the sum of So 900 which was
set apart for Peters maintainence 1t
was provided that he should he taken
to famous cat hospital in small
town in Bavaria and there kept in fe-
line luxury. And as a condition prece-
dent to my inheriting. it was expressly
prescribed that in person, should de-
liver the beast safe and whole at this
refuge, and file the Superintendent
receipt therefor in the Surrogate's
Court In the event of 4 failure the
property passed to a distant relative
even more obnoxious to us all than the
deceased had been. No wonder my
father smiled: it was enough to make
the cat laugh. Well, after we had all
rent the old ladys garment of sanity
into tatters | began to make my prepa-
rations. The one question that per-
picked me was how to carry the beast
securel V and secret V. My future rest
ed on its life: | would he wretched un
less | kept it under constant charge
Yet youn" man travelling with yel-
low cat was sure to be an object of rid
icule besides, the steamship authori-
ties would doubtless forbid its occu-
pancy of my stateroom, and consign it
to the care of the crew; and then good
by to any cat, however imperishable.
In my stress turned to the resource
ful Watson, and he did not fail me.
Il nnders' and what You want he
said, and | will help You. will con-
strurt a CAGE similar to an oblonp
satchcl, with here and ther. strips OF
screening of the same color as the
leather 3D. admit air. Now. t, Guard
against the catcrwauiin" and scratch
ing of tha beast and the danger OF
theft, Peter himself shall he his own
protection. You must know that a
eats skin is most tecund of electricity.
The slightest friction will generate it.
Now, | can arrange an apparatus to
store this fluid, which must necessarily
be constantly produced. 1t will then
have 4 twofolI eifect-it will calm and
subdue your captive when excited and
it will shock any one who NEEDLES with
the Satchel. Besides, 50 vital an at
mosphere must prove healthful and
tranlulizing. | may not prevent an
occasional screech, but Ill warrant it
will he detached an insulated one.
If you will follow my directions there
will be no danger of your being shock
ed
smiled darkly. I'm past that"