The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-06-13

AAA NAHHAbAg NlANhNN w WITTY INC rat
for a while on the cabin floor before
killing II; but on seeming the fried
bacon and seeing that feast was al
ready spread, he abandoned his inten-
ton and by a dextrious shake broke
the neck Of his little victim
OF what followed, the Ragner sis
ters could speak afterwards only with
bated breath. The animal acted like
one Of the bewitched creatures Of the
old story-books that tell Of men turn
ed into cats by enchantment Tom
seated himself at the table, helped him
self to bacon. sopped his bread in tie
gravy and ate It, piece by piece from
the end of a claw.
Gradually a sensible idea stole into
| olives mind. He acts like a per-
forming animal at a show, she whisp-
cred.
Tom having finished his supper,
went back to his dead rat Taking it
up in his teeth, he approached a loose
board in the floor, clawed it up and de-
posted his quarry underneath, with
the evident intention Of serving Il at
/ some future repast. Next, he sat down
in the middle of the floor and washed
his face with painstaking care Then
he regarded the excited women in the
loft with a wide yawn that disclosed
two rows of horribly suggestive white
sharp teeth.
He seemed to be buried in thought
for a few minutes; then he approached
the bed in the corner, turned down the
blankets, got in, put his head on the
pillow, drew up the covers under his
chin, and begin to purr in loud harsh
gutterals. One paw lay outside the
cover, and the watchers could see the
long claws alternately tighten and re-
lax with the rhythm of his song; his
mouth seemed stretched in a soporifc
smile as he sang himself to sleep He
had dined, he had washed, he was COM
fortably disposed in bed; what more
could a reasonable cat wish? He was
in state of beatifc somnolence.
Elizabeth, said Olive, 1--WE are MAX
ing fools Of ourselves! That animal
is tame" o
HE may be tame" said Elizabeth,
doggedly "and we may be fools, but
shall not expose my life to the caprices
of any wild beast"
So saying she doubled her feet in
like Turk, and leaned YEARLY against
a rafter
1T reminds me Of little Red Riding
Hood" went on Olive. What sharp
teeth you have grandmother
You ought to be ashamed of yourself
for joking when our lives are in dan
ger!" snapped Elizabeth.
The loft was narrow and incommo-
dious and their positions were cramped
and painful.
"Im going to rise descent, any
way" said Olive, at last. I'm suffering
here, and l don't believe the creature
will hurt me"
She softly but resolutely put down
the ladder and descended. Seeing her
sister was not devoured, Elizabeth fin
ally followed. But they sat very quiet,
bolt upright on the hard wooded chairs
all night, starting convulsively ever
and anon as Tom fitfully growled and
snarled pursuing imaginary game in
his sleep.
The sisters holding hands and half
dead with fatigue, hailed with joy the
first beams of dawn; but then they had
a new scare, for Tom kicked off the
covers, sprang to the very ceiling, and
falling back on the bed, stood and glar-
ed at them. He seemed to hear some
thing coming. Soon the sisters heard
it, too-the hoofs of a horse. The
horse stopped at the house, and a
brown bearded man entered. What
was the horror of the women whenthe
awful wild beast sprang up, put his
fore-paws on the mans shoulders, and
licked his face from brow to chin.
Down, Toni" said Abner, good-nat-
uredly
Then his eyes fell on his visitors, his
establishment becoming delighted re-
cognition. He took them both in his
arms at once, while veritable tears OF
Joy rolled down his cheeks. He was Sc
glad, so glad! But how did they get
there? Were they not tired and hun
} CRY?
81 see you have made the acquaint-
ance of my pet wildcat" he added
: I'm right glad Tom was here, fol
though there isn't the slightest danger
l of your being disturbed by anyone
, hereabouts, still the cat is so mucI
2 company"
We're very, very hungry, Alb, saiC
Olive, who was half-laughing, half
! crying with excitement and fatigue