The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-07-09
By CAROLINE LOCKHART

sdn udh hhtu ultt IHLS--Uf my iAuu-
der" Mr. Vogel. observed. each time
that he stood with his hands deep in
his trousers pockets at either his
kitchen or dining-room window and
watched the neighborhood tabbies
trotting brislxly along the perilously
narrow top of the high board fence
which inclosed the Vogers back yard
They gif me such crawliness up
my back along-~I don't know what"
Miss Josephine vogel. angular and
austere In her print morning gown,
always echoed. as she stood beside
her father and regarded the antics of
the sleek Thomases.
"You get it from me. Chosaphine; !
haf chust dose feelings
The neighborhood cats seemsd
aware Of the vogel antipathy for them
selves. and, with feline malevoleDcy,
assembled each night In a sort Of cat
congress in the cement alley directly
under the vogel's sleeping apartments.
If ] should not get in the prisons
for firing guns inside the city limits,
should shoot somebody or Something's"
declared Mr.. vogel sayagely.
Each night he hurled portions of his
wardrobe and all the movable furni-
ture in his room into the alley, but
the cats dispersed only to reconvene
and attack the subject under discus
sion with renewed vigor.
One morning after one OF the usual
midnight experiences, Mrs. vogel went
out in the alley to gather UP Mr..
Vogel's ammunition. There was a
cake Of soap and her curling-tongs
Mr.. vogel's CATERS and his camePs
hair fiesh-brush. Mrs. vogel was load
ing these articles and others. of a
personal nature. into her apron when
pack Of street ours, urged on by
gamins, whirled into the alley in pur-
suit Of black kitten; before Mrs.
vogel could protest, the kitten had
run up her skirt and was glaring a
wild-eyed defiance at its pursuers from
Mrs. vogels plump shoulder.
The instant that lady felt its soft
fur against her cheek and heard the
frightened beating Of its heart, she
became passionate partisan. The
leading dog received swift kick from
Mrs. Vogels square-toed shoe which
staggered 1t. and the rest OF the pack
swerved outside the danger line.
you touch dis kitten and make it
hot by you!" declared Mrs. Vogel to
the jeering gamins in the street end
of the alley.
The kitten clung to her like frigh-
ened child, mewing piteously. Mrs
vogel listened until she heard 10
sephine moving about on the second
floor and then she stealthily opened
the kitchen door. 1t was not hand
some kitten, this outcast; It was
black with cleaning yellow eyes, a
head shaped like triangle, and a
sQuawk which seemed TO come from
rusty throat. But its wafer-like
thinness was the thing which appealed
" Mrs. vogel's heart On the alert
ior Josephine's step on the stairway,
she hurriedly emptied the contents OF
the cream-pitcher into a saucer and
set II by the stove. Her round face
was radiant as the starving kitten
Tapped the cream with incredible
rapidity. almost strangling in its eager
ness for food. When the cream was
gone, Mrs. vogel felt the kittens side
critically to note il there was any ap-
preciable difference In its thickness.
The outcast thrived astonishingly
on the cream. which formerly went
into Mr.. vogel's coffee. and it grew in
length and height and thickness with
a rapidity which was constant source
of amazement to Mrs. vogel. who
robbed the table of cream without
compunction.
While Mr.. vogel was at his office
and Josephine shopping or paying
visits, the black cat, a kitten no
longer, sat ON the back step with an
arrogants air Of proprieto-ship and
washed its face or regarded with a
certain aloofness the vulgar fence
walking tabbies who no longer tres
passed by day, at least. on the vogel
premises. At night the cat was shut
in the cellar. and II his voice mingled
with the discords which made the mid
night hours hideous. Mr.. vogel never
suspected TINT he harbored one OF the
disturbers OF his peace.
Il would blant the sweet peas there,
said Mr.. vogel earnestly, one Sabbath
afternoon, as he and Mrs. vogel stood
in their restricted back yard. "and
dose vines there. Ach. Gotti where
did dot cat come from?"
A black streak had shot from the
cellar window and. seating itself in
the sunshine. had commenced care
full toilet, Mrs. vogel. In dismay, saw
that the coal man had left the win
dow open.
"Gif me broom" commanded Mr..
vogel sternly, "No cats sits in my
back yard ven ! am awake"
"He does no harm, he makes no
noise; he only washes his face" plead
ed Mrs. vogel.
"you know dot cat?" demanded Mr.,
vohel suspiciously.