Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-12-30
Ephrairn's
Luck
A Cat and a Girl Both Win
By EVELYN WINTHROP
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

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SsOsOsosososOOsososososOs6
Amy Wallace slammed the gate Of
the chicken yard and came down the
path with tragedy written on her
stormy countenance and In the very
pose of her outstretched hand from
which dangled the lifeless remains Of
promising young broiler.
Another one?" Queried her sister
disconsolately THAT makes--let me
see-seventy-two chickens killed in the
last six weeks. At dollar a pair those
broilers would have fetched 500"
ut Is an outrage" sputtered Amy,
hinging the defunct chicken far from
her sight. THAT cat must be killed
at oncep'
did you send Mrs. Beemer a bill
for the chickens" asked Louise, intent
on her needlework.
Amy nodded. "Sent 1t Monday"
Heard from her today2"
"Ye-es."
Did she say she was a soldiers
widow and that the gray cat was her
only solaceT Louise smiled nischiev
ously.
Word for word. Laugh, II you
must. young woman" went on Amy
gloomiiy, but remember, please, that
l am not talented female artist who
can earn the price of gown with a
few daubs OF paint. l am a mere,
commonplace plodder, and haven't
N foInnt In hn xnynnIH en- 70 t,u
raising, and now begin to doubt my
ability to succeed at that"
''I'll see Mrs. Beemer myself" an.
nounced Louise, arising and folding
her work with an air Of decision. "She
must either pay you $50 and promise
immunity from further annoyance
from the cat or she must kill the
beast"
she won't do either" mourned Amy
from the piazza as Louise passed out
of the gate and crossed the street to
the abode of the Widow Beemer.
Louise Wallace found the Widow
Beemer seated on the back stoop In
the act Of placing a saucer of milk
before the huge gray cat, Ephraim.
Evening, Louey." remarked the
widow amiably. tits some warmer
today"
ut is," agreed Louise coldly. Mrs.
Beemer, that cat has got to CO."
you mean Ephraimr quavered the
widow.
"Of course"
I'm soldiers widow began
Ann Beemer In the melancholy tone
she reserved for that oft repeated
statement, but Louise lifted q slim
finger warningly.
And Ephraim is your only solace,"
added the girl dryly. I'VE know all
that, Mrs. Beemer, and we are very
sorry. but you must see that we can't
continue TO lose chickens at this rate.
It's preposterous. Ephraim seems to
kill just for the mere pleasure Of the
deed. He's a cold blooded old muir
derer."
The pale gray Ephralm turned q
light yellow eye in her direction, and
a faint sneer lifted his black lip. Then
his red velvet tongue darted In and
out OF the milk. aud his eyes were
hidden.
Ann Beemer sighed. every WELL"
she shifted tearfully. all have to
give him up. | guess. He's the only
comfort I've got now. But you can
Just take him away and kill him,
Louey. I'll kiss him goodby II you
don't mind"
"If you will put the cat in u bag,
Mrs. Beemer, I'll find somebody to dis.
pose Of him" lnterposed Louise i'm
patiently.
With hard little glitter In her black
eyes, Ann Beemer brought covered
basket and thrust the scratching, spit
ting Epbraim within. She tied the
cover securely and gave the basket
into Louise's hands Then she threw
her checked apron over her head and
rocked mournfully to and fro
Louise paused at the gate and, look.
ing backward. felt pang Of pity for
the old woman. Then she thought OF
the mournful Amy across tho street
and Ephraim's bad reputation IN the
community nv chicken slayer and
passed through the gate.
an run around to Latimer's and see
II one OF the boys won't chloroform the
cat. Amy will be relieved, indeed,
when I return and tell her that Eph.
rain has gone to Join his forefathers."
II was no light task to carry tho
shaking basket within which the big
gray eat fought tigerishly for escape.
Her hands were quite sore when she
reached the Latimer place and found
herself In the midst of curious group
Of boys and girls at the back door.
Mrs. Latimer came out and Joined
them.
II want somebody TO chloroform a
cat" said Louise tits Ephraim, you
know; he's been killing or our broiI.
ers. I thought one OF the boys might.
I'll give q dollar"
Mrs. Latimer shook her head. III
don't want any Of my folks to kill q
cat, Miss Wallace; it's awful bad luck,
you know. Perhaps Peter swanson's
folks will do It for you. Swedes don't
believe In luck and such things"
VERY WELL" said Louise YEARLY.
"Will you let Billy carry the basket
for mef Ephraim's very heavy"
II guess there won't be any harm In
that-and he was wishing this morn.
ing that he could earn a quarter" in.
situated Billy's shrewd mother.