Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-12-28
Tom, Champion of the Alley
BY MAUD WALKER.

and blue flor be was but a baby then.
was Tom he wondered what be should
do for breakfast. for he was very hungry
indeed Then rs he became colder and
colder. and with hunger raging IN his lit
tie stomach. he crept from the Old box
and went forth into the world on his own
account. Nor DID he ever return u that
box which now held only heart-breaklng
evidence OF his lonellness-his great be-
reavement. He left the dear mother -body
TO Natures care. as is the went OF such
as Tom.
The first thing Tom did after leaving
thu. old box WAS to hunt for mOrsel Ia
eat. This he luckily found in Il nearby
back yard \ Kitchen mall ran into the
alley with some bits OF cold food which
she threw towards an Old b2rrel--but
which went far astray. going on tine
winG-swept g-nund instcad-iust ~ the
moment when Tom came along. Toms
Htt qulyering nose caught the smell o:
meat Waiting till the hurrylns maid had
returned into the house he went eagerly
70 the cast OF scraps OF fool and began
TO eat ravenously. II was the first ;i;n"
he bad ever used his little teeth. but they
the bits Of meat thai were too big TO -
down his throat without first being scTer-
ed into fragments.
After having finished his breakfast Tom
fet that he had come of victorious In the
first battle Of his life, and though he was
bit n tins, ill-kept kitten. he knew that
/ many more aud hercer battles were In
store FOR him. How he knew this We can
not tell. for the intuitive Instinct In
animal is most astounding, and human
mind cannot fathom 1t.
After his breakfast Tom ran down the
alley till he came 20 a barn. q southern
window Of which was slightly ajar.
| Through this window Tom smelt warm
atmosphere He followed impulse and
sprang to the window ledge. Looking
| cautiously within he assured himself that
the. place was lust what he was wanting.
| A big. comfortable room with warm hay
strewn about the floor, was most Inviting
/ to a freezing Kittens eyes. So down Tom
! Jumped into the barn. Hardly had he
/ doue so. however, when a strange and
| formidable noise came 10 his ears. The
sound was suddenly followed by the oh
ject that had made II, a great dog Of
| enormous build. He had been stretched
| IN the Manager mapping softly In the hay.
/ when Tom had made his entrance. But
upon seeing Tom he had slowly raised
himself, glared at the tiny intruder, and
had then given vent to the strange sound
| Just mentioned above. This sound vas
what is commonly known rs a bark.
Tom, never having heard a dog bark
before, was very much startled. Then.
when he beheld the great monster. risen
] before him. he was SO frightened that
| his hair stood on end and bis pretty
soft tall bristled up like the back OF a
porcupine. He stood his ground, how
ever. splitting and glazing back. Strange
to say, this show OF bravery on Tom
part seemed 10 surprise the great dog.
| for instead Of advancing towards the lit
tie fellow he retired into the hay again.
| lying down SO low In the manger that
Tom could see but the tip o. bis muzz!e
| pointed At him Ike a gun and his
round eyes glaring at him In a question
| ing manner. but looking less bold than
they had done few moments before
And again that morning Tom felt that