Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-17

Where did 1t come from: demand
ed Bob Sabin. boss Of the logging
camp.
The camp cook waved a foury hand
in midair. Search me-" he said
frankly. Here l sat making these
here biscuits when all of a suddint
my eyes felt queer and looked up to
see that critter staring at me big as
life. / swan it give me turn to look
at it"
II never saw a cross eyed cat be-
FORE" remarked Sabin. surveying the
large black. lean looking feline which
had appeared in camp that morning.
The cat had been washing its face in
dustriously, but under Sabin's steady
scrutiny 1t suddenly ceased Its labors
and stared back at him uncannily.
The right eye was large and yellow.
with dilating black pupil in its proper
place, but the left orb was marred by
decided cast. In fact. the pupil Of
the eye manifested a desire to dis6p-
pear entirely behind the animals nose.
81 wonder if 1t means bad luck?"
nuSeQ SaDlO.
Later in the day Sabin remembered
the cross eyed cat, and with a thought
TO the ingrained superstitions of some
/ of his men and the unnecessary talk
! that would be exchanged among them,
| to the Getriment of their work, he or
dered Smith. a newcomer. to carry the
! cat to where the highway crossed a
little section of woods wherein they
We're working and there leave the cat.
/ Glad of any relief from the tedium
1 of hauling logs to the river bank,
young Smith picked up the black cat
and carried it, unresisting. into the
I shadow of the woods. An hour later
/ he returned to say that he had left
| the black cat sitting in the middle of
the highway.
Gave me creepy feeling down the
spine as walked away" he remarked
at supper, land l turned and looked
back. and l know you won't believe
what I'm going to tell you" he con-
Guided hastily.
"Oh, yes, we WILL" chorused his com
panions. Fire ahead. Smithy"'
anu lOOheu DdCh. anu ny
cricky, boys, that cat had shifted her
position so that she was looking after
me with them crossed eyes of hers
and l never want to see a more evil
smile on anybody's face than there
was on hers"
Huh
"A cat smile"
Amt you going it ruther strong
Smithy?"
Remember this amt no Alice Ii
Wonderland party" protested another
Amid the chorus of gibes Bob Sa
bins clear voice startled them into 81
lence.
IF you don't believe Smith, just lool
there, boys" he said quietly.
There was silence as the eight mel
turned and looked at the spot which
he had indicated. There. on the edge
Of the timber growth. sat the black
/. cross eyed cat, an evil smile curvint
her wide mouth.
Good heavens. I'm not going T.
have that thing around here" ejaculat
ed Peterson, springing from his chair
What are you going to doT' he wa
asked
Fill her full of lead" he announced
Ominously.
But there was a murmur of prOtes
from his companions. Sabin watched
them curiously. noting the element o
superstition that tinged their handling
of this matter. His men were com
posed Of Americans, Swedes and FrencI
Canadians, and of them all the French
men were the most excitable.
"Ah, m'sieu," appealed Jean Fabroi
to his boss. pray let us not harm 2
evil eyed cat! None of us have to-
mooch of re good fortune to take z
reesk. l myself will take her gentl.
away and lose her"
THAT'S the best plan, Peterson" sal,
Sabn, with a nod toward the ma
who was seeking his gun. Peterson
was disappointed and came back to tn
table.
There's only one way you can los
that cat" he grumbied.
Young Smith nodded his head ash
certainly came back he calculated.
What will you do, Jean"
"Ah. take her in re darkness an
lose her forever in re tangle OF wood
on re other side of re river" rattle
the Frenchman gayly.
That's a good idea, Jean" commend
ed Sabin. rising from the table. TAX
the small boat and be back as soon a
possible. We can't let cat interfer
with our work in the morning. It's a
important matter that we get this IL
down without delay"
"Oui. m'sieu." responded Jean Ff
boris as he suddenly swooped dow
upon the cross eyed cat and caught
dexterOusly in his large hands. As
disappeared in the direction of the Ri
ping river his comrades exchange
smiles of amusement and concern.
Her viii come back" said LarseI
the big Swede. as he pushed heavil
away from the table.
"Ill give her three times TO com
back. The last time will be my turn,
warned Peterson ominously.
Next day the big drive occurred. an
Sabin and number of picked me
r. went down to Double forks hoping I
avert a repetition OF the trouble OF III