Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-12-09
CHAMBER OF CATS.

"There's only ono reason 1 hate to
have him come, - said Mrs. blackstone.
"Only one, and that's enough, goodness
knowsr'
"Thc catsS' inquired Mr.. Blackstone.
1.-THE darned cats" rejoined his wife,
with vindictive emphasis.
''I'll tell him about the cats when /
write" said Mr.. Blackstone. lie did.
Here is the letter:
DEAR R~KoULus-Of course wo want you TO
come, and OF course there Is plenty Of room,
though il isn't the best kind OF room, the good
wifo fears. You must know our fiat H. rs mar
row ard long rs the lane between your own
mansion and that where you house your cows.
Our guest chamber Is the Inst room Of all at
the rear. Il Is tho biggest and the lightcst, but
we dent uso II to sleep in because Of tho cats.
The international cnt dueliDg ground for tho
borough Of Manhattan Is under tho windows.
Why dent VIC kill emf When one dies, six
come ard bewail his death. So we evacuated
tho room for night use and live in the place
tho landlord calls tho guest chamber. There
isn't time before ycu come TO take the bed
atcads down and trnnspose them. II takes ten
days 70 60 that. including the time spent in
hospital.
so, II you can stand the cats, come, and We
hope Jon viii win your case. Gincercly,
WILLIAM BLACKSTONE.
To the Zen. Rcgulus Mcshane, District At
torncy 3 Office. - County, N. Y.
The Hon. Regulus McShane arrived
On a Saturday evening, aud was con-
Quoted to his room. There were win
dows on two sides of the room. The
bed ran obliquely into the room between
them. On each of tho unwindowed sides
was a closet door. enc closet ran through
to the bedroom Of the Blackstones. it
contained q liked washstand ard tho
family medicine shelves. The thieves
Of the other closet were piled high with
discarded shoes, empty mineral water
bottles and fragments Of Iroken furri-
ture.
''Thorcr" said Mr.. Blackstone, as he
opened the door OF this closet and point
cd with pride to the display ON the
shelves. "That is your only relief from
cats. That is tie magazine. When they
begin to howl, lombard them. Use the
Spanish method. Don't bit. II ycu do,
they'll only make twice as much noise. u
The district attorney smiled grimly.
~ rather think Ill stay awake for
fear l shouldn't wake up when they
begin to sing"
Dent You think, my dear" her
husband said, don't you think it is
time to let the weary traveller within
our fat go to the chamber Of cats? You
trot to bed and I'll take Regulus and
show him what beautiful decoration:
there are inside the refrigerator.
She went her way and they went
theirs. SO we'll did the up country dig,
nitary appreciate the refrigerator that
1t was near midnight when he parted
with his host ut the door of the chamber
Of cats. As they passed her door, Mrs
Blackstone noticed that the district at
torney's feet seemed to drag a little.
Poor thing, . she said to herself, Al
sho winkad solcmnly at her pillow
"He is tired. Perhaps he can't hell
dragging his feet, the responsibility O
carrying those lovely shoes is heavy
heavy
AS she dozed, she heard her HUSBAND
saying:
''If you can, old man, you better un
dress in the dark. The mosquitoes an
awful up hero. We would nave put il
screens, but II We had you couldn'
have got at the cats"
1t was perhaps an hour later whei
Mrs. Blackstone awoke. The night wa
very still. She wondered what ha
walked her. In a moment she know.
"Pr-r-r-ow-wow! I" came the cha
lenge from a half block away. "Pr.r-i
OWL
"Er-wowur' camo tho answer froi
under the back window.
"Will," said Mrs. Blackstone hoarsl
ly TO the next pillow, "Will, wake ~
They're coming" She sat up aud olal
ped her hands softly In her glee.
"Lemme know when they get here.
mumbled Blackstone as he dug his hea
into the pillow again. Mrs. Blackston
sat up and listened.
"Pr-r-r-ow-wowi' The challenge
was drawing nearer. Not one, but thrG
voices answered him. For a momen
as they converged, all was silent. The
came a mastery battlecry. 1t was lib
that of a 0-months-old infant who hi
swallowed his bib pin.
"Will, " said Mrs. Blackstone, "wal
upi They've come. He sat up an
rubbed his eyes.
In the next room they heard Il
bump and pounding Of bare feet ON Il
floor. They heard a door open and Il
blinking of glass.
Goodness, WILL" whispered Mr.
Blackstone, ''I'd forgotten that yo
could hear things In that room SO cIea
~"
ITS a very still night" her hu
band mumbled wisely.
The footsteps moved softly across Il
room again. ''Slum- chunkl' The frnl
ments OF bottle tinkled on the hard SUI