The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-06-24

had been hard day at the office and
he was particularly glad to get away
by himself. He turned on the electric
light, hung up his overcoat aud hat.
while visions Of his cushioned easy
chair beckoned him delightfully."-.
There It stood, wooing him to It's
arms, and in it-Pickham's expression
change; there. on its sacred cushion.
lay huge Maltese catl
Pickham disliked cats. "Scatl" he
said. sharply. with fierce gesture.
The cat opened its sleepy eyes and
stared at him, rolled over on its back
and. after apparently trying to stand
On its head. went to sleep again.
It was simple enough to call the
Ianitor, but Pickham felt that It would
be a little absurd. Surely, he ought
to be able to drive cat out OF his
room without calling for help! He
went softly up to the chair and reach
ing down took gingerly hold on two
corners OF the loose cushion seat,
raised the corners and slid the cat
% the floor. Scat" he said again.
The cat deigned one glance at Pick
ham, stood up on all fours. gave q
tremendous hunch to its back and
such cape that Pickham shivered,
and stretched itself full length on Its
| side on the big Turkish rug, while the
end of its tail tapped laziIy for few
seconds before it dropped fat. The
cat was asleep.
| Pickham rammed his hands into his
pockets and glared down at tho cat.
Regarded simply as cat, the animal
was not Objectionable It's fur was
smooth and silky; 1t had a plump.
well-fed, prosperous an; moreover; In
its present position Pickham calculat-
ed that it was over yard long. He
would rather have taken up a baby
than the cat--and he was not partial
to babies.
He turned the chair-cushion over,
to avoid possible hairs, and sat down.
The ca was doing no harm, at least;
and the simplest solution Of the prob
lem seemed to be to wait for the cat
to wake up. when it might be lured
into the corridor Pickham gazed
down at the cat--it was a magnificent
specimens and something seemed to
stir within him at the suggestion Of
companionship.
Pickham was In his thirties, and
had spent the last is years il build
ing up profitable business; 1t had
been an absorbing occupation. and
neither cats nor women had taken his
attention from it. Now. as he looked
at the contented cat, stretched out
upon the rug. he suddenly began to
feel dSlestic.
A nice girl on the other side OF
the rug, with the cat between them
1t really might be worth while. Pick
ham felt a sudden pang Of loneliness
He glanced about his comfortable
bachelor quarters. and they struck
him for the first time as rather
dreary The furniture seemed angular
and heavy; the effect was akin to an
interior decorators exhibit in 4 shoE
window He wondered how It would
seem to have workbasket on the
severe library table. or woman'E
cloak that hung on peg in the din
ing-room where he took his meals
just back Of its owner, who sat op
posite to him. He remembered thai
one rainy day he had come upon the
owner hurrying along without an um
hrella and had escorted her under his
to the dlning-room. He flushed lit
tie, thinking how he had taken it al
as matter Of course. Since then sht
had never slipped into her seat al
breakfast without a little blush ant
shy good morning Pickham sud
denly reflected that he would mis-:
/ that good morning."
Just here something rubbed againsi
Pickham's tr0users-leg. He glanced
down. The cat had walked up at last
and was evidently trying to attract
his attention.
Pickham's feeling toward the ca
being a good deal softened, he said;
Poor pussy!" and hopefully opened
the hall door. The cat did not bulge,
It merely lay back its head and cried
New" with somewhat strenuous
pitch. Plckham left the door oper
and walked slowly back to the cat
who sat down, curved its tail around
Its forepaws and gazed steadily ant
expectantly at Pickham 1t had ell
the repose aud dignity Of an assured
social position, and Pickham almost
blushed to think that he should have
said Scat to such a gentlemanl.
animal. Nevertheless it was plair
that the cat was not to be trifIed with
and as Pickham gazed down At it ir
resolutely, the cat stood up, gave
Pickham severe glance, and agar
cried "Mewl''-this time with sharl
imperiousness; and not deigninl
| further remarks walked over to ths
closet door.
A light dawnec Spon pickhsn: hs
opened the closet and took a Jar b
milk from the little refrigerator. ana
pouring saucerful set X down b,
the cat, who Tapped It up expeditions
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