The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-10-06

"a 1Alhh4A vi " SCI A.
rived.
What! You home at this hourY" she
asked.
Yes; there was nothing doing at the
Office"
We'll, 1 bought this ribbon for the
cats neck, and you might find him and
tie it on. He's probably in the back
yard"
Mr.. Bowser took the ribbon and went
into the back yard, and it is needless
to say that he didn't find the cat. He
had been looking around FOR ten min
utes when Mrs. Bowser came around
and called and called and then said:
81 can't see where he can have gone
to. This makes me think Of the dream
l had last night. / dreamed that some
one carried him away, and as he went
I could heal him calling and appealing
to me to save his life"
Fudge. He's probably asleep in the
grass somewhere"
"And just as I was coming up in the
street car l saw an Italian carrying
something in a paper bag. Could he
have got in here and stolen the cat?"
"Of course not. Cats go providing
long distances. Ours may be a mile
away at this time, but he'll head for
home about supper time"
"You-you wouldn't play any trick
on him, would you? asked Mrs. Bow
ser with something like accusation in
her tones.
81? l have something to do besides
playing tricks on cats"
You don't like him, you know"
81 don't care either way. What did
you buy today?"'
Mrs. Bowser put the cat out of her
mind for ten minutes to discuss other
things. but when the cook came home
the subject was r%eopened.
when l left the house he was Sleep
ing at the back door like an innocent
angel said the coo in answer to a
question. Hes a cat that never goes
away from home in the afternoon, and
if he's gone now some n must have
had a hand in it."
How long had you been home when
1 got here:' queried Mrs. Bowser of
LIT 1tu ldtltLCu uSSoSSlu.
Ten minutes maybe"
Il can't get it out of my head that
that Italian had our cat in that bag"
Pooh! You are making a great fuss
about an old cat"
But l like him. I wouldn't have
anything happen to that cat for a hun
dred dollars. I'm d good mind to put
on my hat and go down the street and
look for that Italian. He wasn't walk
ing very fast"
You let that Italian alone. You'd be
a nice spectacle chasing a man around
the streets, wouldn't your"
But our cat is lost"
II don't believe it. He's liable to
shoW up any minute"
Mr.. Bowser's assertion was prophetic.
He had just opened the front door to
take a e on the steps when a roar
ing, buzzing sound was heard up the
street. He looked up and,saw the lost
cat coming. He had three or four
dogs and five or six men and boys at
his heels. Before he could fairly real
ize the situation the cat whisked
through the open gate, up the steps
and up the front stairs, and he was
closely followed by the dogs.
Hey, you,' shouted the man who
had taken the feline away, ida cata
getta away!r'
Well, go on: never mind"
"But what does he say about the
cat?" asked Mrs. Rowser as she ap-
peared on the steps.
"Da catta getta away. One dol to
TAXA him off. When he gotta away he
scratchy me like -! I wanta another
dol!'
you go on" shouted Mr.. Bowser.
Like -; da cata scratch me. I
wanta one more dol"
Mr.. Bowser could do no less than
rush down the steps and order the
crowd out of the yard. They didn't go.
Instead of going they pitched into him,
and in a moment he was down and
fighting for his life. Fortunately for
him a policeman came along after he
had had most Of the clothesitorn off his
back and rescued him and drove the
assailants along.
"Now. then" said Mrs. Bowser when
the w~oebegone figure had limped up
the steps and "a gasping for breath,
Il want to understand this matter.
What about paying that nan a dollar
to take u cat away?"
"Wo-woman!' shouted the assassin
in reply, after two or three efforts,
you have at last driven me to the dead
line! Not another word from you! You
can take the 10 O'clock morning train
for your mothers, and our lawyers will
settle about the divorce and alimony!'
NJ. QUAD.
a Long. Long Time.