The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-23
HUNr rN orrr nALL rAnK.
The Cat. the sparrow, and the Rehiarks of
tho RurRily Cln sInn on the Crowd.

tho RurRlly Clad sim on the Crowd.
City Hall Park was going equally about III
afternoon business when the cat appeared
trotting across tho asphalt. She was a large
gray, sleek blocking Tabby. seemingly well
enough fed 10 preclude the necessity OF makinC
her own living so perhaps IL was the prirneval
instinct OF the hum that took her to the sward
west OF the City Hall building. where several
sparrows were hopping In a vain quest for
crumbs which were not there. Good fortune
was with hor. In that the predatory newsboys
and boctblacks didn't notice her, otherwise
there would have been a hunt in which she
you'd have taken the most Important aud least
desirable part. Several passcrsby did notice
her, however. and stopped to watch operations.
Having gained the grass plot. Tabby recon-
noltred. Directly in front OF her. at a distance
OF not more than five yards. four sparrows were
exchanging bird notes on the scarcity OF food.
To the right was the open lawn. TO the left a
thick clump OF bushes with n three-foot over
hang OF tangled shrubbery. For all she was so
sleek md trim the cunning Of her race had not
died out In the huntress. Little by little she
began edRing over TO the right aud advancing
almost imperceptibly. Her process of reason
ing was dlscernIble by q study OF the situation.
NJ one chance sheiwas saying to herself.
is to edge those sparrows over under the
bushes. As long a. they are in the open i
won't have one chance in a hundred. quick as
may, spring. Bnt II lean get them under the
branches where they can't rise I've got agood
shanee ito, to rush ash and an b brine ing. down one OF them
As she reasoned she advanced very slowly.
as IL seemed. to the spectators. but not quite
four sparrows hoped. 'chirped aud. then' new
away. The fourth perked an inauiring, head
bushes and proeeeded with It's exsmipation Of
the grass, TabbY's tail switched and Tabby's
ears twitched %nervously. Behind her, a crowd
had gathered. The interest was evinced by a
prevailing silence, cautiously broken by, q gen
I'm bet one TO three on the cat"
Nobody accepted this offer. though the low
s sat had g eP PooS eb al tee R fensnps tS Sss w asa fr -she
IN New York; moreover. this one had an lmpu-
head that did not commend 1t to the sympa-
thies OF the crowd. swaying gently from eide
with many 4 sidewise hop here and there.
neared the ciunp of bushes, Once ,Tabby
paused. gathered her sinewv legs under her
she used to be. that it were better to risk get
POINT a CITY Hail Park ltH bootblacF standing on
the steps saw the drama in progress. swing
ing his box. he sped toward the place. sum
moning his side partner to share. the fun:
Hey. Mickyl Get onto de cat! Look out
fer her wen she comes"
execution. for rs he approached the place, a big
man in a silk hat seized upon him. shook him
nerSely and finally sent him .pinning away
with the sting OF a sound box on the ear as a
warning not to return.
Dazed and amazed. the urehin returned, to
swell guy who was prepared to resent severely
any interference with her amusements. Now
the sIPsTow was well under the bushes and the
man had changed his allegiance and was ofier-
ing even money on the cat. An iras ?ible ELDER
Ills S cane. 's demanded t 81 sVer1body With com S,n"
siderable f1erceness:
Why don't the fool Of q cat Jump? shes
.E"Ahl"'. cried the crowd. and HIP, and
the same thing. which in this instance signi-
fed that the cat had jumped.
There was a fash Of gray through the air,
a sharp chirp, the swift stroke of q paw that
brushed the W -hanging shrubberyIthe flutter
Of wings and the bird was in the free air. leay-
threw a chunk OF wood at her. and this time
there was no one to interfere. She, had
missed her change. and DIG lost st the sy%pathies Of
dissolved. But there remained behind q Tur.
ally clad man who chuckled feebly as one ex-
iicemsn Observed him With suspicion until
sh ss sgra1 M Esnt offaer. ss You'd call mo a jay.
Well, + could tell that you don't live in
New York" admitted the policeman.
cable cars. and make Jokes about my blowing
lot Of fellers:that.could likely, as not buy my
whole farm twice over, wastln,' fifteen minutes
sparrer. that my eight,year-oid, boy Zeke
dor SSS'f sos sS% Ssn f, So4s.t ~ E country. MI. ofieSr'
And he departed chuckling. leaving the
copper to ponder on the point OF view.