The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1909-06-30

marked NIT CATS
By CAROLINE LOCKHART


press his exact feelings, the largest
and loudest-voiced tortoise shell
Thomas in the entire neighborhood.
the one which MIR. Vogel had particu-
larly marked for death, poised itself
on the fence and bounded into the
yard. The eyes of the cat on Mrs.
Vogel's shoulder turned green. He did
not jump-he literally hurled himself
upon the trespasser, and Immediately
there was under way the most savage
fight Mr.. Vogel had ever witnessed.
Mrs. Vogel screamed and would have
separated them with the lath but Mr..
Vogel, whose sporting blood was up.
held her arm.
'Himmel!-he's vunder;" whooped
Mr.. Vogel. dancing about the writing
ball of fur. AS 1t bounded and thumped
from one end Of the back yard to the
other. an occasional glimpse could be
caught of green eyes. needle-like teeth.
and extended claws. There was no
sparring for time. and no intermission
it was fight to finish.
Patches of tortoise-shell fur began
to float in the air and decorate the
shrubs. Finally the visiting cat tore
loose. leaving what seemed to be a
portion of one ear in the black cats
mouth. The victor chased him over
the fence and out of sight. only to re-
turn shortly, breathing heavily. but
otherwise quite calm.
He would be goot for MICE" said
Mr.. Vogel. as he looked at the CON
quering Thomas refiectively.
Grand" replied Mrs. Vogel. as she
stopped over the crushed rosebush to
conceal a smile.
By the time Mrs. Vogel put linen
busters on the parlor furniture and
made other preparations to close the
house for the summer. the cat was
sleeping regularly on Mr.. Vogel's
heaving chest when he took his after
dinner nap.
II don'd like him personally, but
he's so goot for mice" Mr.. Vogel ex-
planned to wondering visitors who
knew of his antipathy.
Finally the question arose as to
what should be done with him during
the summer.
II will not leaf him to run the streets
and starve." declared Mrs. Vogel.
Mr.. Vogel reflected and then said
judicially:
"Send for the man from the Society
for the Prevention OF Cruelty to Ami
mails. He will take him away and kill
him easy-mit chloroform."
Mrs. Vogel shuddered and declared
It would be murder; but, as one
friend after another declined the
honor of entertaining the Vogels'
Thomas, the society seemed the only
alternative, so. at last. Mrs. Vogel
blotted a postal card with tears and
sent 1t to the society.
Mr.. Vogel was reposing on the sofa.
the cat purring loudly on his bosom
and occasionally reaching up a soft
and playful paw to slap Mr.. Vogel's
double chin, when closed black wa
gon stopped at the door. The electric
bell trilled loudly, and Mrs. Vogel ad-
mitted burly colored man with a
covered basket.
Cats" he asked, In a business-like
voice.
Mrs. Vogel burst into tears and
pointed to Mr.. Vogel on the couch.
Cats" repeated the colored man,
reaching for the cat on Mr.. vogeIs
chest.
The cat seemed instinctively to
know its danger. His pupils dilated,
his tail swelled. and he sprang to Mr..
vogel's shoulder for protection.
"Oh, fadder," cried Josephine Vogel,
and her voice shook. HE vas a fine
cat-and such a fighter"
But we hat no blaze for him." said
Mr.. Vogel stubbornly. HE will die
easy-mit chloroform."
The man reached again for the cat,
and II struck and spit at him. Then
the society's agent raised his hand to
slap him into submission The cat
shrank from the blow, and. putting
one soft paw on Mr.. Vogel's double
chin. chung desperately to his shoulder
with the other
II dast You to strike this cat!"
shouted Mr. Vogel furiously, and he
covered 1t protectingly with his hand
You lay your finger on this cat Offer
my dead pody-Chosaphine!" he CON
tinued, to that person. who was weep
ing audibly. 81 will gif you 500 to look
after this cat this summer"
But hotels will nod take cats" wept
Josephine.
"Den, by Chimney" roared Mr..
yogeI, 81 will keep this cat IL hat to
build a cat hotel. ] am made ashamed
to dink raised. a wife and children
vot would gif cat like this to the
cruelty.-Dot's the door. you cat thief,
and you go before do Something's for
vich you will be sorry"