The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-08-11
BY
w. w. JACOBS
Copyright 1905 by W. w. Jacobs.)

"a thing he couldn't bear-but at 'omc G,
course, his young uns thought as everythng h,
said was Gospel; and one day. coming 'ome from
work, as he was passing George BarstowS he was
paid out for his deceitfulness
"I've wronged you, Joe Clark" SEES George Bari
tow, coming to the door, land I'm sorry for it,
"Oh!" SEES Joe, staring.
"Give that to your little jimmy SEES George
Barst0w, giving I'm shilling I've give i'm
one but thought afterwards 1t wasn't enough
what for?" ses Joe, staring at i'm agin.
For bringing my cat 'ome," SEES George Bars
tow "Ow 1t got out can't think, but lost it
for three hours, and I'D about given 1t up when
your litte Jimmy brought 1t to me in is arms
He's fine little chap and e does you credit"
Joe Clark tried to speak, but he couldn't get
word out, and Henery Walker, wot 'ad just come
up and card wot passed, took hold of is arm and
helped i'm home He walked like man in O.,
dream, but arf-way he stopped and cut stick
from the hedge to take 'ome to little Jimmy He
said the boy ad been asking him for stick for
some time but up till then ed always forgotten it.
At the end o. the fust year that cat was still
alive, to everybody's surprise; but George Bars
tow took such care OF 1t e never let 1t out of IS
sight. Every time e went out he took 1t with
i'm In hamper, and, to prevent Its being pisoneC
he paid Isaac Sawyer, who 'ad the biggest family
In Caybury, sixpence week to let one of is boys
taste its milk before 1t had 1t.
The second year 1t was Ill twice, but the horSr
doctor that George Barstow had got for it said
that 1t was as ard as nails, and with care 1t might
live to be twenty He said that 1t wanted more
fresh air and exercise; but when he card ow
George Barstow come by 1t he said that p'r'aps 1t
would live longer indoors arter all.
AT last one day, when George Barstow 'ad been
living on the fat O. the land for nearly three years
that cat got out agin. George ad raised the front
room winder two or three inches to throw SOM?
thing outside, and, afore he knew wot was 'apper
ing, the cat was outside and going up the road
about twenty miles an hour.
George Barstow went arter 1t, but he might as
well ha' tried to catch the wind. The cat was arr
wild with Joy at getting out agin ana he couldn't
get within arr mile Of it.
He stayed out all day without food or drink, fol-
lerlng, 1t about until 1t came on dark, and then
course, he lost sight of 1t, and, hoping against
ope that 1t would come home for its food, he went
ome and waited for it. he sat up all night doh-
Ing IN chair In the front room with the door let
open but 1t was all no use; and arter thinking for
long while wot was best to do, he went out and
told some o the folks 1t was lost and offered
ward OF five pounds for It,
You never saw such hunt then in all your lif"
Nearly every man, woman and child in Claybury
left their work or school and went to try and
that five pounds BY the AFTERNOON George Bars
TOW made 1t ten pounds provided the cat was
Drought ONE safe and sound, and people as was
TOO Old to walk stood at their cottage doors to
snap 1t up as 1t came by
Joe Clark was hunting for 1t Ugh and low, and
SO was Is wife and the bows In fact b'liev2
that everybody in Claybury excepting the parson
ana BOD Pretty was trying to get that ten pound
" course, we could understand the parson-' IS
PRIDE wouldn't let i'm; but low, poaching THEY
ing rascal like Bob Pretty turning up Is nose at
ten pounds was more than we could make on.
even ON the second day, when George Barstow
mace IL ten pounds down and shilling week 70
year besides, he didn't offer to stir; all he dill
was to try and make fun o. them as was lookinS
for It.
Have you looked everywhere you can think
OF for 1t, Bill?" he SEES to Bill Chambers.
Yes, I ave-" SEES Bill
Well, then, you want to look everywhere else,
SEES Bob Pretty Il know where should look II |
wanted to find it."
Why don't you find 1t, them" SEES Bill.
Cos don't want to make mischief" SEES Boil
Pretty: Il don't want to be unneighboury to Jo
Clark by interfering at ALL
Not for all that money!" SEES Bill
NOT for fifty pounds" ses Bob Pretty; "yo1
bers"
ITS my belief that you know more about
bins w.