The Washington herald., 1909-05-09

place like a thing terrified motionless tense on
the defensive with no confidence in her powers for
defense. Something would come out of that door
what? Something to be feared undoubtedly. She
recalled the dark box and the two green burning
eyes, and that this door fairly open, she
into black yawning interior, and-those pitt
less, haterehectng orbs again Boots stnened
She was terrorstrcken.
Now that dread something appeared, sinking
thing not timid, but doubtful. II out of the
black with suspicious grace OF motion She saw
only it's eyes until the black body fairly in the
larger cage, and it came silently head and tail
dropping mewing and snuffng Just loud enough TO
be heard. 1t was great black cat.
SO rresolute seemed the animal Boots took
courage for the moment, feeling the presence OF
Mademoiselle though she could nothing but
that Sinking creature She sat up ready for
events. Then slowly langudly, the black head
turned about, If to regard Boots contemptuous'
ly She stared into those green eyes, those SOM
noescent eyes filled with evil dreams those eyes
that stare and stare without faltering, injurious,
iniquitous. There was about then a malicious
vitriolic calm. green and glazed and deadly Sud
denly the mouth opened, VIDE reo' eused WIN
fangs, and a languid throaty hiss came from It,
This challenge; Boots prepared to heei the
black cat took long stride forward its back
bending snake's-then the whip fell in short
rapid cuts, swishing deliberate cruel The black
cat fought with protesting paw to put the bitter
rod aside. Snarling, swaying it's wicked head, il
retreated, Kissing maledictions. But Boots noted
plainly that the black cat did not groyel finch
Fifteen minutes of tense evolution, the beast un-
willing at every move, and Mademoisele drove 1t
back into the dark interior ~ the box. The door
grated shut drowning the las. OF its snars. Boots
again, but in most reflective manner. This had
been her Introduction to the life the real life, and
to Mademoiselles place in it, and to Pierette, a
black evil thing. Boots wanted to think about 1t.
Ibid you it?" asked Mademoiselle OF the
man, later.
"Yes, my DEAR" he replied. "And good stunt,
too. If you get them close together. But
it is dangerous; some day"
Nonsense! IL she should touch Boots I'd whip
her head on"
"I wasn't thinking of Boots my dear, but of
you," said the man, and he tried to put his arm
about Mademoselle's shoulders; but she cried non
sense again and thrust his aside. Somehow,
Boots felt that it not nonsense, neither the
caress the advice since it is nice to he petted
she knew. and it seems very foolish to trust ones
self within reach of vicious cat larger than all
the relations Boots had ever known.
TT was dusky when Mademoiselle left the tent,
calling to Boots, and they went outside to where
the oil lamps roared and the first of the crowd
gathered for the night Boots Jagged and slipped
to side beneath wagon. She heard Made
mosee calling shrilly moment later, but she
refused to be cajoled into returning Boots wanted
to smouch around a little and consider these hap.
penings of the day She had a faint longing for
the one-time quiet of her old life in the common
place home circle 1t had been a mistake, she
thought. the adoption of this strange life. She
wondered If she must go into that large cage very
often She was indebted to of these black cats
for slight limp, and Boots knew ,Iat there
feud between them, private enmity, something
aside and apart from Mademosele's authority