The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-08-11
August N, 1905
BY
w. w. JACOBS
copyright 1906 by w. w. Jacobs.)

the Caulifower ERE, except maybe to wink at i'm
"a thing he couldn't a bear-but at ome O.
course, his young 'uns thought as everything h,
said was Gospel; and one day, coming ome from
work. as he was passing George Barstow's he was
paid out for his deceitfulness.
"Ive wronged you, Joe Clark" SEES George Barr
tow, coming to the door, land I'm sorry for it,
Obi" SEES Joe, staring.
Give that to your little Jimmy ses George
Barstow, giving i'm a smiling. 1--WE give i'm
one, but thought afterwards 1t wasn't enough
What for?" SEES 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 little Jimmy brought It 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 I
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 4
dream, but arf-way he stopped and cut a stick
from the hedge to take 'ome to little Jimmy He
said the boy 'ad been asking him for a stick for
some time but up till then ed always forgotten it.
At the end o the fust year that cat was Sl
alive, to everybody's surprise; but George Bars
tow took such care of 1t e never let it out of is
sight. Every time e went out he took 1t with
i'm in a hamper, and, to prevent its being pisoncG
he paid Isaac Sawyer, who 'ad the biggest family
In Claybury, sixpence week to let one of is boys
taste its milk before 1t had 1t.
The second year 1t was Ill twice, but the hors.
that 1t was ard as nails, and with care it might
live to be twenty. He said that 1t wanted more
fresh air and exercise; but when he eard 'Ow
George Barstow come by 1t he said that p'r'aps it
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 It, but he might as
well ha' tried to catch the wind The cat was arr
wild with Joy at getting out agin, anu he couldn't
get within arr a mile of it,
He stayed out all day without rood or drink fol-
lering 1t about until 1t came on dark, and then, o
course, he lost sight of It, and, hoping against
.ope that 1t would come home for it's 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 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 lc.
ward OF five pounds for It,
~ you never saw such hunt then in all your life.
YEARLY every man, woman and child in Claybury
ielt their work or school and went to try and
that hve pounds. BY the AFTERNOON George Bars
low maze IL ten pounds provided the cat was
Drought 'ome 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, I b'lieve
tnat everybody In Claybury excepting the parson
ana Bob Pretty was trying to get that ten pound.
course, we could understand the parson-is
PRIDE wouldn't let i'm; but low, poaching, thiev'
ing rascal like Bob Pretty turning up is nose at
Yen pounds was more than we could make ou'.
Even on the second day, when George Barstow
mace II ten pounds down and shilling week TO-
year besides, he didn't offer to stir: all he dill
for It. - ""'
Have you looked everywhere you can think
OF Tor 1t, Bill?" he ses to Bill Chambers
Yes, ave-" SEES Bill.
well then, you want to look everywhere else
ses Bob Pretty. II 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 BOZ
rretty; Il don't want to be unneighbourly to Joe
Clark by interfering at ALL
Not Tor all that money!" SEES Bill
NOT for fifty pounds" ses Bob Pretty; "yor
S ougns to know me better than that, Bill Cham
It's my belief that you know more about
Wnere tnat cat Is than Won olyht IN COS Toe Cub.