Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-01-11


the shawl strap around the box and
fastening 1t securely.
few moments later Helen, carrying
the bandbox with much care, was on her
way TO the exhibition hall, where the cal
show openeu thar day. ''-
II was due to Mrs Stevens pleadings
that Pussy Purrmew was to be exhibited.
She was one of the officers OF proml-
nent cat club. and she insisted every time
she called on Helen that the kitten was
rarely fine silver Persian and should
be shown.
Helen had protested that she know
nothing Of exhibiting Kittens. But Mrs.
Stevens had promised to make all the
arrangements, enter her. prepare the
cage, ,eyerything-if only Helen would
allow her TO be exhibited.
Mrs. stevens was also to send after
her But this morning when the messcn-
ger boy came Helen was afraid TO trust
the kitten in his care and decided TO take
it herself.
But 1t was an embarrassing trip. Ev-
erybody in the car stared at her curiOusiy
when from the bandbox came the eound
Of eager scTatchlngs and plaintlye
news"
When she reached the hall Helen was
bewildered by the long row Of cages and
the general confusion Of the place. Cats
were. being taken out of baskets and
boxes, cages were being lined and deco
rated, and attendants were hurrying baCA
and forth with little wooden dishes Of
chopped meat and tins Of water TO be
fastened inside the cages.
An official looking woman with a hand
fun If papers came rustling by. Helen
stopped her with a t.mid:
Can you tell me where III find cage
80i?'
Third aisle-turn 10 your left"
80 read the number on the cage at
the end Of the third aisle; 81. SO, Sg-
Helen followed on down to SO4, the mum
Der on her entry ticket Mrs. Stevens
had the cage aitractively lined with red
velvet. White blotting paper was on the
bottom and a Halle red velvet cushion
in one corner.
With some difficulty Helen got Pussy
Purrmew into the cage. She was thor
oughly frightened, and huddled back in
the corner with eyes dark with fear and
big as saucers. Helen tried TO stroke and
reassure her, but for once she was OBJ
llvious TO petting.
oh, it'll get over that said a woman
who was lacking up some blue velvet in
a nearby cage. My baby was just as
frightened when first exhibited her.
Bat she's been in over twenty shows nov
ana she's grown to love them"
And then she went on to dwell on the
merits aud many blue ribbons and prizes
Of her cat. Later Helen strolled around
among the cages. There were long
haired. shOrt-haired. silver. blue, white,
black, orange, coon, Siamese, Manx and
many other kinds Of cats. \ few, on ex-
Eibition for the first tine. were as fright
ened as Pussy Purrmew. But the greater
number were professional show cats"
used 10 lying cOmp.aCcntiy On a siIken
cusl.oR and hsing glzed at by an admir-
ing throaE-
Many Of the cages We're gay with prize
gitaScs won at previous shows. and
silver cup was in the cage with one
.du=u.d. walIe-haired beauty.
He.en went home full of interest and
excitemeLt- What If Pussy Purrmew
should win a prize? She was entered. Of
course. in the kitten class. and
Helen had seen no other kitten that
seemed her superior.
And yet she had not told Warren. When
AIrs- stevens had first asked Ler 10
exhibit the kitten Helen had spoken to
him sbo1t IL. He had only shrugged his
shoulders Win a
Well I should think you'd find a bet
Ter way 70 spend your time. And that