Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-01-18
HIS PRESENCE of MIND.

tiful Angora kitten which his mother
had purchased at a cat show. He waS
both proud and fond of 1t. At night II
slept in silk-lined basket on the foot
Of his bed, and Alick was very careful
to close the door Of mis- room SO t1a'
Poppet, the kitten, could not run out
but once. about 1890, he woke and
saw that the door was open, and feel
ing in the basket he found that Pop
pet was gone.
He peeped out into the hall, the gar
was turned down low, but he could
see in every corner. AS he stood
looking around, faint and doleful
new, new, new, sounded about his
head.
"Poppet must nave gone into the
garrett" thought Alick, and he thrust
his feet quickly into pair of slip
pers, and his arms into his little fan
mel bathrobe, for he knew how colo
the garnet was, then climbing on
chair, he lit his candle by the gas jet
All this time Poppet kept up con
slant NEW, new, mewing.
Alick went up the narrow stairs OF
tip-toe. The mewing stopped at once
as he reached the landing, and he
went slowly around the room, which
was filled with trunks and unused fur
niturc, poking his candle into ever,
corner, but Poppet >.as not to be
| found.
When he came to the ladder leading
to the roof, he glanced UP and saw
that the trapdoor had been propped "
| with a broken cane, and in the open
ing a little white face and pair o.
bright eyes peered down at him.
ooh, Poppet!" said Alick, chow die
you get there? Come down at once.
Poppet only answered "mew."
So Alick placed his candle on the
floor and went quickly up the ladder
the Kitten watching him narrowly, ant
| just as he touched her soft fur she
whisked away.
81 must go after her" though Alick
II know mother would be frightened
but will be very careful. He squeez
ed himself through the small open
ings, for the door was too heavy fol
him to lift. AS he did SO the cant
slipped out of its place and the dool
fell down with bang.
Poppet had come out for play, ant
she seemed to think Alick had too.
Away she scampered over the stone
copings from one roof to another
now she scrambled upon a chimney
and began chasing her tail in a mos
reckless fashion, but she was of agar
before Alick could catch her.
Almost at the end of the long row
however, he managed to seize her, ~
though 1t was a cold night, and "a i
garmentssas.Yler scanty, he hassal
joyed the race a. much as Poppet.,
When Alick came to-4strace
steps he became dreadfully puzzled
for all the roofs were exactly alike.
One after another he pulled at the
trap doors, and at last much to his re
lief he found one that was unfastened
which he felt quite sure belonged tt
his house.
1t was hard work to open the heav!
door, with Poppet in his arms, but a
last he managed it, though he pinch
ed his fingers as he closed it aftel
him.
1t was dark in the garrett.
THE candle must have burnt out
thought Alick, as he felt his way tt
the staircase.
The lower hall was dark, too, bu
he crept along, until he came to hi
own room, as he thought, opened thu
door and let Poppet slip from hi
arms.
He almost jumped out of mis- slip
pers when strange voice said:
rs that you. DAM"
He had no time to answer, for a
that moment the door was opened b,
a rough looking boy of fifteen, carry
ing lamp and two Walls.
4 Aflck saw at once that he had en-
tered the wrong house, and he sill
quickly behind heavy curtain whicl
hung before the door.
THE baby is crying" said tn
large boy, $50 your mother can
come, but she told me to rub your arm
with this and to give you spoonful
of that"
| Alick peeped from his hiding plac
and saw a boy some years older thai
himself lying on the pillow.
1 "Give 1t to me quick" said the bo
Grossly. 81 am lame all over. TIL
next time slide down those banister
you'll know it, DAN"
Eve did know it this once, David,
answered the boy. ''You howled Xix
calf"
$50 would you If you had almos
broken your arm, and half put on
your eye"
Without answering Dan placed tn
lamp and walls on a small table clos
to Alick, and he saw that one O
the Walls had a red label with skul
and cross bones printed on it, whic
you know means that the contents O
the vial are poison and must not b
swallowed.
| Presently Dan found large spoo
and Alick was surprised to see hir
pour out spoonful from the red-labc
ed vial and go towards the bed.
Take it like good boy" he sale
coaxingly. 1T must be powerful stuff
4 1t smells so bad
When the boy in the bed stretche
out his arm for the spoon Alick, VIII
knew Dan must have made a mistake
called out:
Stop"
Dan gave howl and let the spoo
drop.
David sat up in bed and said:
Hello, who are you?
Then Alick came from behind. tn
curtain and told them all about POI
pet and mis- queer mistake "And tn
reason called out stop" he added
twas because Dan was going to Civ
you the rubbing stuff instead of tn
| medicine"
Glow do Won know" asked Dan