The daily sentinel., 1903-12-05

PEBBLES having chloroformed her to
gain private end that he had in view.
As the cat finally opened her eyes she
looked at Bob inquiringly, as if she
would ask: "What is the matter with
me? l feel queer" The man. too.
looked inquirngly at the brute, as if he
would say: We'll have you any re
marks to make? / am listening"
The cat was not feeling well. She
still was dizzy from the effects of the
drug. her head ached. and there was n
peculiar feeling of fulness in her
throat. So she looked at Bob PEBBLES
Bnd gave vent to her emotion in a vocal
noise.
The animal was somewhat disap-
pointed ana more surprised at the re-
suit of her effort She had intended to
express her feelings in long-drawn
meow which would tend both to main
tain her established reputation rs Il
songster and TO unsettle and agonize
the people of the neighborhood. In
stead. the sound she made was n pro
fracted and peculiar whistle. Her feel
1ngs We're hurt. and she sat up to think
about the matter. Had the eXecrablc
man deprived her of her gifts as n vo-
calist? She looked at PEBBLES reproach-
fully and beseechingly, and then tried
her voice again. Despair seized her;
whistle was the only result.
But II the cat was made unhappy by
this surprising exercise of her vocal or
gans. Bob PEBBLES was not. As he lis
tened to the shrill warble he seemed
fairly abandoned to bliss. He laughed.
he threw his arms wildly in the air, he
got up and walked the room. laughing
all the time
-'All right" he said. THAT'S all
right! You may not he much of
songster my beauty. but guess you'll
do. Hereafter you'll necessarily live
on milk hut I'll live on the fat OF the
lnu1. or I'm no prophet"
The cat wildly clawed at her throat
and whistlcd in response. and. in his
happiness. Bob PEBBLES stopped and
stroked her.
1t did not take long for the people of
Firesteel to learn that Mr.. PEBBLES had
a whistling eat. The quadruped her
self served as an advertising agent of
the fact. With her change of voice
had come no corresponding change of
her feline nature, and naturally she
still felt an inclination to join in mid
night concerts. and did so. At first she
showed some disposition to fall off
fences or housetops in her surprise Mt
the sound she emitted when she had
intended to make remark in choicest
cat language, but gradually she APP
peared to come 10 the conclusion that
it perhaps was n bad cold that allied
her. and she let it 90 at that. still. it
was noticeable that she yet clawed ut
her neck at odd times in an unsatistied
and inquiring way.
On the morning after the first feline
concert in which PEBBLES eat joined.
Tom Bowker met Bill Collins and said
10 him:
Say, did You hear that queer noise
minglln' in the strains of the cat or
chestra last night-sort of a cross be
tween the croak of frog and the
squawk of a blueiay."
Yes. heerd It," Bill responded. "but
IT seemed to he more like Il combination
of the warble of canary an the
dyin' gasp of locomotive"
This brief conversation gives Il fair
idea of the attitude of the populace to-
ward this nightly phenomenon, but as
the people learned that Bob PEBBLES ac-
tually had a whistling eat surprise
merged in quiet and persistent curiosity
and n constant stream of sightseers
haunted his dwelling
But. although Mr.. PEBBLES whistlinS
cat was a recognized popular success
he himself did not appear to be entire
ly satisfied with her efforts He sat in
the sunshine by his house one day and
watched the eat as she washed herself
after the manner of her species. As he
watched he thought, and at last his
thoughts We're expressed in mono
logue.
You do well enough for an anna
teur." he said addressing the cat but
/ don't believe you'd he worth n whoop
MS n professional. Now. if You could
whistle some notes-not necessarily n
tune. but enough notes to make Il
pleasin' Variety
Bob PEBBLES stopped talking. After
moment of reflection he arose, went
over to the cat, and. ON his index
finger. took some measurements of her
throat.
Il b'lieve," he said. that by using
n longer tube could get room for bout
three or four notes.
Then he took the cat upon his arm.
and with frown of reflection upon
his brow went into the house.
Three days later wave of excite
ment overran Firesteel Mt report
brought in by Sile Stewart.
"A mob OF cats" he said, started up
concert outside of my window last
night, an l was preparin' to applaud
them with a stovehook when l noticed
some peculiar sounds, an there stood