Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-09-07
4 MERE GIRL BUT A HEROINE.

Katy was always q very imaginative
little girl. She would wake up, IN tne
night and imagine she heard ana saw
such dreadful beings. More than once
she had cried cut in the night ano III
sisted that there was great plg peaI
with shining teeth and great RED eyes
standing by her bed ready TO eat hef
up
Her brothers had often teased ne.
about It calling her "fraidy cat" and
such names. More than once had haty
resolved In her heart that she woulo
do something to mako her orotners
think she were brave. Katy never mao
tho chance to do that something now
ever.
It was toward the close OF winter
that little Katy took sick. It was tnen
that she thought she would 90 some
thing.
Mamma dear" she said quietly, art
er this want to sleep here down stairs.
I'll not be bit AFRAID. Do Let me-
please" she begged.
why my dear little girl cried her
mother ,astonished at Katy's sudden
bravery. Il didn't think you'd pc 50
brave Yes, you can If you want TO.
So Katy's bed was fixed on the coucn
down stairs in the sitting room. Inc
mother said to her. Don't you want TO
sleep up stairs dear? Because II you
need me In the night, I can hear you.
But Katy insisted on sleeping down
stairs.
well then, IL you happen to need me
in the night, Katy. you can blow Jonns
whistle here. I'll hear that" Everything
was planned.
The Ralstons had been bothered with
the cats all winter. The cats Wou!o
climb in the cellar window and sing 70
the family all night Mr.. Ralston
could do nothing to drive them away.
Katy slept soundly until probably
midnight. She woke up with starr
and was ready to cry out, when she
remembered. Listening she heard quite
a noise on the back porch. dog run
ming back and forth, ~ she concluded.
Then another noise was with 1t. was va
somebody trying to get In? katys 1T
tie heart throbbed painfully. y gear n
somebody is trying to get In and what
shall I do? Her first thought was 10
hide under the bed covers where she
could shut out all noises. She saw,
however, how foolish this would be so
she lay still and thought what she
could do. Here's my chance, she Whls-
pered joyously to herself. The boys
won't call me "fraidy cat" any more.
Suddenly happy thought struck her.
softly into the play room next to the
kitchen and her hands soon closed upon
Johnnys little gun filled with water.
Tip toeing softly to the kitchen door
she knelt down and peered through
the key hole into the darkness. The
dogs continued barking and Katy OF
course supposed that they were bark
ing at person. In just moment a
white speck appeared near the key hole.
Time to act, thought Katy and squeez-
ing the little rubber bulb on the gun,
stream Of water shot through the key
hole A bark snarl and Katy saw q
streak Of white dash off the porch and
disappear into the darkness followed
by splash. "
Katy had just enough strength to
get back to the sitting room. There
she summoned up enough courage TO
blow Johnny's whistle. Her motner,
hearing her, ran down stairs IN
hurry. There she saw her darling IN
heap on the bed crying as II her heart
would break.
''why, daughter, what's the. natter p
asked Mrs. Ralston anxiously.
II guess-rve- shot man. Katy
stammered. q,
cried puzzled Mrs Ralston.
"well It's just this way" Kay be-
gan and slowly her story came out.
Jack, Jack" called Mrs. Ralston. MI
Ralston hastily dressed and hurried
down stairs to see what his wife want
ed.
Jack, unlock the back door so we
can see what this child has done she
commanded They unlocked the door
Mrs. Ralston, holding the lamp high
above their heads. There on the back
porch was a streak of water made by
the gun and many tracks made by the
dogs Looking in the rainbarrel by the
porch, they found-a cat. drowned.
well daughter" laughed Mr.. Raj
ston heartily, II guess you've rid us OF
the CATS" ' Es
That was the last time the cats ever
bothered the Ralstons and never again
did the Ralston boys call their brave
little sister "fraidy cat although
there was quite laugh about Katy
shooting man. -.l.
Vida VAIL, age IA,
91S E. Williams ST., Ottumwa, Ia.
MAuDE ANSWERS LETTERS.