Omaha daily bee., 1911-11-02

loosened the cover, a tiny gray paw
reached up and then with a bound, a
fluffy little Persian kitten jumped out
For a moment it seemed bewildered, then
1t ran under the couch.
In the basket was a small envelope.
Helen tore it open: PUSSY Purr-mew
for little winifred Curtis"
A kitten for Winifred! But who had
sent 1t? There was no name on the
card. STOPPING down, Helen drew out
from under the couch the frightened
ball of fur and cuddled it lovingly.
"Oh, you dear little thing!"
The kitten purred and rubbed against
her A tiny collar was around its neck,
with a silver bangle on which was en-
graved PUSSY Purr-mew."
PUSSY Purr-mew-Pussy Purr-mew!"
Helen repeated It aloud. What a dear
name for a kittenv'
Then she took IT in to Winifred, who
, was playing with a small woody sheep
on rollers. At first she seemed afraid,
then with a gurgling laugh she put
out her hand and stroked its soft fur.
But the kitten was still shy, and it
struggled away and ran under the bed.
Again Helen went back to the basket
and shook out a piece of pink canton
flannel that lay in the bottom, hoping to
find some clue as to who had sent IL,
but there was none. Who could it have
been? Certainly none of Warren's peo-
pie, for they disapproved of children hav-
ing live pets,
Della" Helen called into the kitchen.
/ bring me a saucer of milk. There's a
little kitten in here, that someone has
sent winifred."
"A kittenl" Della came to the door in
astonishpent. "Oh, amt it purity one?'
my, that long hair-I amt never seen
one like that"
She brought the milk and the kitten
Tapped it up eagerly, and then proceeded
to wash it's paws and face with the gray
est kitten dignity. Helen found piece OF
pale blue ribbon and tied a butterfly
bow on its collar.
"Oh you dear, soft, fluffy, furry little
thlng!" as she put the kitten on a chair
and adjusted the bow.
But could she keep it? Would Warren
let her? She knew he had never APP
proved OF pets in an apartment 1t was a
very valuable kitten. Its long fur and
fluffy tail proclaimed that And II she
couldn't keep it-what would she do with
it? Since she did not know from whom II
came, she could not return II.
Meanwhile the kitten went TO sleep on
the chair, trustfuly unconscious Of the
uncertainty Of its future.
1t was later than usual when Warren
came home. and Helen could see that he
was not In the best Of humoF, She had
fixed a box for the kitten in the nursery
and now she shut 1t up in there not want
ing him to see It until after he had had
his dinner, hoping then he would fee
more kindly inclined.
Stevens a fool" ne declared. as hi
watched Helen break open large baked
potato and fix 1t up for him with butter
ralt and paprika. You know l warned
him not TO go into that Lewiston deal
and now the bottoms dropped out OF the
whole thing, just as ] said II would.
And he lost what he put in it?'' asked
Helen, pushing the potato toward him.
cot course he lost what he put in
over five thousand" digging into tho
potato with his fork.
Perhaps you'll want little more
paprika. dear. that's stronger than any
we've had and 1 was afraid ia get too
much"
And now the whole concern Is dow
and out" he went on, ignoring her com
ment And 1t serves them right-the'
were crooked from the start. and / toll
Stevens so all along See here, is this al
the bread you've got? What about tina
whole-wheat bread you orderedg'
They didn't deliver 1t today--I don
know why. III phone them in the morn
ingJ