The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-06-21

&
the way, / was reading the other day
that philosophers are agreed that the
mind ia-is-co-co exteneive-yes,
that's the Word-co-extensive with the
nervous system, 90 that wherever
there's nerves, there's mind; ON the
surface of the body just as much as in
side OF it. What doyou think, Dolly2'
Looks reasonable" said /. you
see, it follows that q big boy has got
more mind than asnaH one" I looked
sideways at Tommy.
Tommy was thoughtful for q mo.
ment. "Gaess not" he said finally.
''It's spread thin on a big boy; some
times mighty thip " And Tommy
looked sideways as .ne.
Thus exchanging weighty thoughts
we arrived at the Floral hall. This
was o long, barnlike structure used for
exhibition purposes during the annual
county fair. The doors were merely
fastened with props, so that entrance
was easy.
Tommy deposited his squirming bur
den upon the floor. Let's see the stuff"
he said.
produced and opened the paper, dis
closing a fine white powder.
Thunder" said Tommy. you've
got enough to kill all the cats in Cen.
terville. How shall we give it to herG
They say it's powerful bitter"
'Iu tell you. You just unite the
bag and let her head out and hold her
tight, while / give her q pinch Of It."
Tommy executed his part of the
program, and presently the head Of the
victim was exposed, twisting i'm every
direction, while he held che mouth Of
the bag tightly about her neck. "What
are you shaking so for, Dolly9 It's just
as I said last night; you don't show the
true scientific spirit. This cat isn't one
Of your relatives, anyhow; 30 hurry
up"
I managed to PRIV apart the sharp
teeth Of the animal and deposited q
large pinch of the powder upon her
tongue. The effect was startling. She
spit furiously, uttered q sharp scream,
and began to struggle with surprising
vigor.
"Grab her quickl' yelled Tommy.
''She's tearing my legs all TO piecesI"
might az well have tried to grasp q
tornado. Hang on, TOMMY" I shout
ed. shell be dead In a minute. Just
show the true scientific"
ended the sentence with q yell as
piercing as Tommy's. He, unable to
endure the fierce scratches of the
furious animal, had lost his hold, and
with one bound her sharp claws were
buried deep In my neck and shoulders;
with another she was upon rafters
above; a third spring carried her
through q small open window beneath
the gable Of the building.
a. loud scream from without mingled
with cries Of "Howly Vargin and the
blessed saintsrproteCt usl" followed the
disappearance of the cat. In conste--
nation we forgot our wounds and
rushed to the door. There the first
thing that struck our eyes was the cat
shooting like q streak of furry light
ming across the grounds to the distant
fence, and then the source Of the out
cries made herself volubly evident. 1t
was Mrs. Murphy, the worthy wife of
the superintendent of the grounds, who
lived nearby. She noticed us stealing
to the building, and impelled by curl
osity or a sense of duty, had followed
us. Unfortunately her path had inter
sected the orbit of the Cat as it spraDg
through the window and several
scratches on her ample face showed the
result Of the collision.
Mrs. Murphy was usually the best
natured woman In the world and her
surprise and fright were certainly
sufficient excuse for the language
which she showered upon our unfor
tunate heads. She ordered US of the
grounds in no gentle wise, and threat
ened US with dire vengeance from her
husband. We apologized as best we
could and sneaked away.
Presently q thought occurred TO us
We had left the paper Of strychnine on
a bench. We went back and peeped
cautiously in at the door. She had
picked up the paper and was looking
c~uriously at it's contents. Presently
she wet her foger, pressed it in the
powder, looked at it q moment and
then to our horror, and before we could
say a word, touched it to her tongue.
Tommy became as pale az death and /
felt my heart stand still. He recovered
his presence of mind instantly and
-.Ioa - hno -onoD