The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-05-27

A Problem In Fur.

4
Copyright, 1901 by Daily Story Pub. Coz
Gordon hated cats. To him the
name cat meant not a round, soft, silky
ball, with contented purr somewhere
inside, but a gaunt, prowling creature
generally one-eyed and scalloped-
cared, and more often with three
sound legs, than with four; monster
haunting backyard fences; freak Civ
ing vent to unearthly shrieks so badly
aimed at the unoffending moon that in
stead they pierce the innermost depths
of poor sensitive mortal souls and stir
up emotions better not described
Therefore, Gordon did not jump for
Joy after he had read the following let
ter from a wealthy aunt:
MY Dear Nephew:-While the de-
scription you gave of your new studio
charmed me, observed that you lack
one thing, and that an important one"
(''Money! Alsays did, my dear aunt.'')
That to which l refer, is indispen-
sable to every pretentious studio"
("And to every unpretentious purse,
auntf) mo studio, my dear nephew,
g
Gordon was seized with one of the
aforementioned better-not-described
emotions, for the word he read was
cat! "A cat, went on the letter, lis
as necessary to an artists success as is
his brush; indeed, may say, the cat
adds a Tone" ('Better say a fiendish
noise, aunt, J, which is not to be OBJ
tanned by mere pictures and furnish
ings. Now, do not mean that think
you ought to take in an ordinary ami
mal;-better none at all, than any
common type. Knowing you are not
80 placed as to be able to make for
yourself a good selection, 1 have done
1t for you, and am now sending you a
most beautiful creature-a full-blooded
Angora, registered as John Alden, and
aged three months. He is valued at
fifteen dollars, but as he grows older
will increase in worth. Let me know
II he arrives safely, and what you
think of him; also, do not fail to send
me occasional reports Of him"
Then followed several pages of di-
rections for the care Of Angora cats,
proper foods, etc, and Gordon dropped
the letter with disheartened sigh.
The next day John Alden arrived.
At sight of him Gordon did not shud-
der as he had fully intended to do. In
stead he timidly stroked the long, yell
low fur and laughed when this act
started spinning-wheel in John Al
denis interior. Then and there, of his
own accord, with no thought of doing
so for the sake of his own interests in
pleasing a rich relative, Ernest Gordon
mentally swore to do the right thing
by his new possession, and when purrs
gave place to hungry news. FASTENED
to his small inner room, procured a
saucepan, lighted his oil-stove. and
heated milk according to his aunt's adj
vice
John -lden was duly introduced to
the elevator boy and to the night
Waterman, each of whom gladly took
the oath of allegiance to his furry
highness. Thus was his installation
accomplished, his reign begun.
Your generous gift came safely.
wrote Gordon to his aunt II like him
! immensely and appreciate your kind
interest in making the success of my
new studio complete 1 have no doubt
my Angora friend and 1 will get OF
famously together"
His Iordship was not long in estab-
fishing himself as master Of the studio
| Disdaining the comfortable baske
Gordon had arranged for him, he care.
fully selected the most expensive fab,
RIGS wherein to compose his dainty
limbs; scorning the spool and string
/ provided for his amusement, he tore
up and down velvet curtains and por
there's. He whisked as lightly as
feather, back and forth, in and out
among costly vases and marbles, ant
though Gordon sometimes drew Ions
breaths, he said nothing.
week passed, during which Johr