Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-02-28
Ephrairn's
Luck
A Cat and q Girl Both Win
By EVELYN WINTHROP
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

8 Copyright. 1910. by American Press 9
Association.
0sososososOsoososososososo
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 hfeless remains Of
a promising young broiler.
Another oneT Queried her sister
disconsolately. "That makes-let me
see-seventy-two chickens killed In the
last six weeks. At dollar pair those
broilers would have fetched $780,"
"It is an outrage" sputtered Amy.
tiinging the defunct chicken far from
her sight. "That cat must be killed
ut oncey'
did you send Mrs. Beemer q bill
for the chickensT asked Louise. intent
ON her needlework.
Amy nodded. "Sent 1t Monday.
Heard from her today?"
"Ye-es."
did she say she was a soldiers
widow and that the gray cat was her
only solace" Louise smiled mischiev
ously.
Word for word. Laugh. II you
must. young woman" went on Amy
gloomily. but remember, please, that
am not talented female artist who
can earn the price Of gown with
few daubs Of paint. l am a mere.
commonplace plodder. and haven't
a talent in the world save for poultry
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 $36 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 saucer OF milk
before the huge gray cat. Ephraim.
Evening. Louey," remarked the
widow amiably. Its some warmer
today"
ut Is" agreed Louise coldly. Mrs.
Beemer. that cat has got to 60"
"You mean Ephraim" Quavered the
widow.
"Of course"
Pm a soldiers widow began
Ann Beemer in the melancholy tone
she reserved for that oft repeated
statement. but Louise lifted 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
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. and his eyes were
hidden.
Ann Beemer sighed. VERY well"
she shifted tearfully. "Ill have to
give him up. l guess. Hes the only
comfort I've got now. But you can
lust take him away and kill him.
Louey. Ill kiss him goodby If you
don't mind"
If you will put the cat in bag.
Mrs. Beemer, I'll find somebody to dis
pose Of him." interposed Louise i'm
patiently.
With q hard little glitter In her black
eyes. Ann Beemer brought q covered
basket and thrust the scratching, spit
ting Ephraim 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 the street
and Ephraims bad reputation In the
community us a chicken slayer and
passed through the gate.
"Ill run around to Latimer's and sec
If one Of the boys won't chloroform the
cat. Amy will be relieved. indeed.
when return and tell her that Eph-
rain has gone to join his forefathers.'
1t was no light task to carry the
shaking basket within which the big
gray cat 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.
81 want somebody to chloroform q
cat" said Louise. "It's Ephraim. you
know; he's been killing on our broil'
ers. l thought one of the boys might.
I'll give dollar"
Mrs. Latimer shook her head. Il
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.
Every WELL" said Louise YEARLY
.'win you kt Billy carry the basket
for me? Ephraim's very heavy"
81 guess there won't be any harm In
that-and he was wishing this morn
Ing that he could earn quarter" In
,inuated Billy's shrewd mother.
"In see that he gets a quarter fos
the iob.n smiled Louise. And then, fol.
lowed By the curious Billy and trailed
by the remaining Latimers. they sought
Peter Swanson, the blacksmith.
~ couldn't kill no cat. MISS" said
Peter apologetically. when Louise nae
told her story. They tell me 1t brings
bad luck. Yust now can't AFFORD nc
bad times. Maybe the Eyetalians II
the Holler might
Louise sought the italian settlement
In the Hollow. Pietro Roncagns
averred that Ephra1m possessed thu
evil eye and crossed his brown fingers
shudderingly. Even the rafting crisp
ness of greenbacks failed to break hil
resolution.