The Ordway new era., 1910-07-01
TAKING
POSSESSION

Sitting fat on the floor as she was.
she stared at the wide-open front door.
whsre . cat stood balancing on the
'.threshold after uttering an ingratia-
ting "Meow!"
! Il do believe It is" murmured the
summer resorter. Then she said to
the cat: go away! won't have
you'll You're grown up. but I'd know
you In the middle Of siam-you were
the kitten last fall that descended on
me two weeks before left, and who
nearly gave me gray hairs trying to
ind q home for you! Didn't carry
you back every morning for week
to the caretaker's house and didn't
they treat you beautifully. and didn't
you finally give me up in disgust and
resign yourself to staying there?
Then what on earth are you doing
back here the very minute I arrive?"
"Meowl" said the cat. silkily arch
fully inside the door.
"Shoo!" cried the summer resorter.
ri don't want you. and won't have
you'll skat!"
The cat stepped in and rubbed Its
hack against a chair. It was a black
and white animal with odd marks, and
It had earnest eyes and a trick of
opening its pink mouth wide when 1t
spoke. It opened Its mouth now in a
sort Of voiceless new. 1t showed no
intention whatever Of departing.
'See here!" said the exasperated
III II hit you with this shoe won't
you take the hint?"
The cat asilely lodged the shoe and
.lsaped upon the couch. digging its
claws with q purr Of pleasure into the
pillows and settling itself cozily in q
round ball Of fur.
-Oh. don't do that!" begged the sum-
mer resorter. plaintively. You act
- certain that you're here to stay.
but assure you that you aren't. Why.
I've . bulldog here this year that
could chsW up q dozen cats like you
In i've minutes. and can't spend my
summer referesing dog-and-cat fights!"
! The cat extended one foot and re-
Gasdsd IT. claws though1ully. They
IA look Q tribe dangerous. 'Meow!"
4 said. inauirinsly.
/. well. maybe you could scare him
o6." admitted the summer resorter.
:'fBut there's no use being foolishly
reckless. And he's likely to,bounce in
ct any instant, Just a. soon as he has
0nishsd digging q chipmunk hole
sefoss the road. Please so-I don't
want to be bothered with . cat, and
you'1 ct into the refrigerator and the
pantry. and there arn't any mice"
-. Ths oat leisurely Jumped down and.
Advancing on the summer resorterS
climbed into her lap and resettled her
SELF.
"0h!" cried the unwilling hostess.
Z almost petted you then. and that
would have been fatal! You needn't
think I'm going to be weak-minded
enough to give In to you Just because
you stare At me 20 appealingly! ANY,
how. can't understand your mad af-
lection for me. for all I did last fall
'was to try to get rid Of you!"
"Asr-ow!" said the cat. It dabbed
daint1ly with ono paw at the summer
resorter's hand.
Il won't pet you! won't touch
youi" cried the summer resorter fierce
", struggling to her feet and spilling
the cat out Of her lap. Get QUIT"
Tho cat looked up In her face and
mswsd hungrily.
There isn't thing can get Mt in
the box from the grocer's except tho
matches and olives till It's unpacked."
protested tho summer resorter. And
you don't look hungry. Oh. I know
you! II feed you once you'll camp
out right there and derrick couldn't
dislodRe you. Therc-I told you sol"
Tho bulldog had bounded into the
room. He stared an instant unbcliev-
ingly At the trespasser and then shot
at dc cat like q cannon ball. Then
he two gave . splendid imitation Of q
couple Of cars on scenic railway.
hurdiing all the furniture In the room.
There was Q moment Of wild mixture
Of growls, claws. splitting and fury.
and Il ended In the bulldog streaking
out Of the house. bowling in anguish,
his tail between his legs.
We'll, OF all thinss!" gasped the ter
rifled summer resorter. Il thought
when I brought that dog over on the
boat At least he would fight for me-"
She looked at the cat. The animal
was sitting In the center Of the rug
placidly washing its face. It seemed
quite undisturbed and finally It
stretched out for q nap. Then 1t re-
msmbered and getting up. said:
"Meowi" again hungrily.
"0h dear" said the summer resort.
~. well. I suppose you've proved
that you meant what you said about
staying when you first came in! All
right-stay. then! Come along and
we'll get some milk"
Cana on Torpedo Boats.