The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-04
THE UNTOLD STORY.

M - Wv n y Aa0 ~ a " ~
"You may have heard of my dog
Mex" said the Hon J. Cheerful Layer.
"ie was a famous animal throughout
PuntO Perdido. His peculiar name was
derived from the fact that several years
ago he overthrow. for a time, the Mex
lean government. ] can not diVulge the
circumstance because it involves not
only the chief magistrate of Mexico, but
also "A woman OF the highest drlStOCrdCy
Discretion and galantry absolutely for
bid further mention. Suffice it to say
that she was the daughter of a general,
a dazzling beauty just twenty years
old. this Senorita Marie Ccncha de las
Flores. Not another word, my friend.
except that the woman loved me madly
There was a terrible scene When-weh,
never mind who-the president, in short
discovered that the senoritas OF whom
he was desperately enamored. had
placed her affection in my custody
The truth is that he hurled himself a.
me- brandishing the gigantic machete
&c always carried 1t was then that
Mex CWhose name was Tige up to that
dayl came to the rescue. Mex was Q
bloodhound of the true breed the kind
that really sweats blood. In an instant
the president lay PROSTATE on the floor
Mex had Overthrown the Mexican gov
eminent! Wei. at the risk of my own
life. ] rescued my adversary
But after all, 1 intended to relate
an anecdote concerning Mex and Grip
pied Pete, my tame wildcat. The latter
had lost two hind legs in most ex-
traordinary manner. You see, he was
an Incredibly powerful beast, with =
muscular development altogether out
or proportion to his weight which dill
not exceed probably 40 or 50 pounds
Fete's uncanny intelligence had become
proNerbial in Punto Perdido. Like mas
ter, like cat. BY the way that's how
the axiom originated.
Although a surly brute. Pete was
devoted to my daughter Minnie. Mex
and he were good friends enough. but
Nhe little girl Pete adOred without re-
serve. Did I ever tell you incidentally.
Of little Minnie's phenomenal musical
achievements?
As a youngster Minnie was very
fond of snakes The biggest. ugliest
RATHER had no terror for her. She han
oled snakes without gloves in every
sense, and no harm came of it, The
child was also a wonderful musician
When she was mere baby she Was
often borrowed from us to lead the
town band on occasions of state. Now,
one day, as I passed Rattlesnake hollow
the camping ground of innumera bl ?
serpents, I beheld Minnie seated in the
midst of 43 snakes of all sizes. each of
which was called up at attention with
Its rattle-bearing tail standing between
II and 2215 inches above the ground.
Minnie had a little stick in her hand
and was leading. By the evidence of
were playing Sweet Marie" They rem
dered the tune faultlessly, sir. 1 may
say that 1 never heard a better or
Chestra. Minnie assured me later that
this had been the first rehearsal of the
Rattlers band I am. therefore, con-
WINGED that a real genius can draw mu-
sic out of any old thing.
Returning to Pete. however, let me
show you why the cat was a hero.
When Minnie was a bit of a kid.
tered Punto PerdidO. It's track lay
within 100 yards of the front door of my
house. 1t seems was away at the
time-that Minnie was playing on the
track when the train came along. For
some reason the engineer could not re-
verse the lever Suddenly. Pete, then
in possession of a full set Of legs leap
ed Immediately in front of the loco
motive Bracing his hind limbs firmly,
he stood like a granite I have told you
Of his marvellous strength. 1t was so
great that he succeeded in breaking the
engines onward speed. He stopped it,
nearly While his hind legs were thus
busy, he caught little Minnie with his
forepaws and in q few seconds had
gently rolled her off the raised track
down the slight grassy decivity. But
by this time the wheels of the engine
had crushed both his hind feet. and.
continuing in their course, had reduced
both legs up to the launches into pulp
At that juncture, Pete by a mighty eff
fort turned a swift somersault. side
ways. and saved what was left of him.
We had two rubber limbs made for
him
Speaking of Mex and Pete, the two
did a particularly clever thing one day.
Really, that constitutes the anecdOte I
mean to . What's that? Six
o'clock! My dear fellow. excuse me I
have an appointment with J. Pierpont
Morgan. New Orleans Times-Demo-
crat.