Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-09-09

1t was too late to return Buzz. even If
such course was advisable, and Billy's
first impulse was to slip back to bed, leav-
ing Buzz out in the cold.
At thrat moment, BUZZ, who may have
been gifted with teepathic powers, set
up a howl so shrill, so unearthly and so
heart-rending that shivers of horror
chased themselves up and down Billy's
spine. The prospect being kept awake
all night by such musical feats did not
appeal very strongly to his mind. So he
grudgingly opened the window and BUZZ
entered rubbing gratefully about Billys
ankles, and tripping him twice before he
could get back to bed.
Billy gazed in deep disgust at Buzz,
and Buzz, from his position upon the
rug. returned the look with one evincing
an advanced case Of afinitis. Billy had
taken it for granted that the great cat
would curl down upon the floor and sleep
peacefully until morning. An ordinary
and quite unspoiled cat might have done
this, but not the aristocratic Buzz, petted
darling Of an adoring Althea.
He regarded Billy affectionately for sew
eral minutes, his rose-pink tongue pro-
tubing a half inch from his mouth, then
leaped lightly upon the bed.
Billy was amazed and disgusted for
Buzz was disposed to sit upon his chest
and rub a cold nose against his chin
full Buzz with no gentle hand upon the
foot OF the bed, then lay back and closed
his eyes.
Buzz. thus removed to a respectful
distance. apparently took the hint, but,
impressed with the solemnity of the oc-
Casion and the proper Difference owed his
new friend, he became dissatisfied with
his personal appearance and began to
wash. 1t was evident that very thor
ough bath was contemplated, regardless
Of the unpleasant fact that every move
ment shook the bed.
Billy raised his head and peered GU
riously in the direction of the disturbance.
Jar, jar. Buzz was nothing if not thor
ough. Billy closed his eyes and tried to
imagine himself travelling at night over a
rough road, but the effect was not all
that could be desired. At length, as the
process continued, he raised one foot in
desperation and landed Buzz on the floor.
Minutes went by and the cat made no
| move. Billy settled himself to sleep, but
| he had barely closed his eyes, when a
striped body came whirng through space
and alighted upon his pillow. Then a
| brown paw began to pull at the blankets
in the imperative desire to get beneath
them. Billy, worn out and discouraged,
and with a large. round, warm word,
| lifted a cover over Buzz, who Immediately
| settled down into cat content.
| But if the bath had been tedious, the
| concert that ensued was quite as much
| foe to slumber. At last Billy drowsed off
| into confused dreams of a hunting trip
with various notables, where the lions
| pursued the hunters and purred loudly
| all the time.
| Morning, however, brought counsel:
and, while he dressed Billy meditated
| upon the problem. 1t was plain that Buzz
was too strongly entrenched in his mis-
| tress' affections to be supplanted by any
| IL
| evident that Althea had been deeply
| wounded by Billys unfeelng remarks.
| Something must be done, and what that
| something should he rested with Billy.
Then Billy had an inspiration. He stood
looking down at the cat, stll wrapped in
slumber.
"Alrs fair in love or war;" he said
iubilantly." and this IS something of both.
Buzzie, old man, you are in the hands
of the enemy. You have become hos
tage for the capitulation of your mistress,
1t is to be a case of unconditional SUR
render for Miss Althea, thanks to your
putting your tiger head into the lions
mouth. The honors OF war are mine. ]
| almost love you, BuZZ-almost but not
quite. Perhaps love will come" he added
whimsically, for it is plain you are
to be mine"
Billy went about all that day and the
next with a broad smile and subdued
chuckles 1t was the day after thai
Althea sent for him. He found her II
tears and a most becoming blue gown
Billy left his chuckles at the door and
entered with a martyred and funerea
mien.
IT'S a wonder" she said to him. "tha
can bear to look at you, considering
what you said about him, but I'm smpl!
! desperate" Here she grew quite inco
herent and Billy correspondingly sympa
, thetic, but at length the fact came t.
! , light that Buzz had dlsappeared-had no
been seen or heard of for three days-an,
Althea was inconsolable
1 fully
''I4isten Althea," said the businesslik
Billy. IF l produce Buzz, alive and wei
within three days, will you forget an
forgiven"
Aithea regarded him with deep. pene
. trating solemnity.
d IF you bring me Buzz" she sal
\ earnestly, you shall have us both as
reward"
t TITS a bargain" asserted Billy camel!
e watching the deepening of the dimple
:. Althea's cheek.
e AS he stepped out into the street, III
n icy, winter wind smote him, and h
h thanked his lucky stars that 1t was col
IS weather and that tightly closed dooi
n and windows mufled the indignant meol
e of the incarcerated Buzz
IT Billy reported daily to Althea. Thu
y far he had been unable to locate II
n cat, but his efforts were becoming MOI
ID and more strenuous. He set his teet
ground his heel into the parlor rug, ar
of declared that 1t was victory or deaf
e. And Althea impressed upon him no
z, much faith she had in his efforts ar
r how grateful she was
3 The three days went by, and on Il
l. evening OF the third, Billy rang the be
at Altheas. She answered in perso
re and he put the cat into her arms.
in The reunion was touching. Buzz w
e, beside himself with JOY and so W;