El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-08-10
BY FLORENCE f. YODER.

soIemnly got up on the edge Of the
box and looked in Tom" he said,
as he shook his head. the spring to
this jumper isn't even covered up"
Tommy climbed up to see. 700 Sure
. enough, the spring was quite bare, and
I the Jack itself was nothing more than
a head Of plaster
Let's take of the head" suggested
Tommy. we may be able 70 do some
thing with the rest OF the thing" With
very little trouble they unfastened the
plaster head, and then-Ohi happy kit
ties, they found out that by getting
inside Of the box and pushing on the
sides and sitting on the spring until il
was far down and then lOosing the
hold that they flew out just like the
Jack, and could jump into the middle OF
I the room
II was the best thing they had ever
played They jumped until they were
completely tired out, and heard some
one coming We must cover this
ever finds out that we did not like the
Jack and broke II up he viii be very
angry"
They carried the head out Of the
door between them. shut the box, and
went upstairs TO plan out how they
could scare the other kitties with IL
I viii get inside" said Tommy, and
you must shut down the lid and fasten
ne In Then. when the crowd is all
gathered, let her 60 III jump out so
far into the room that IL viii scare
the lives out OF them. OF course they
viii pretend that they are not afraid
TO have YOU open a Jaclz-in-the- box"
As soon as the room downstairs was
empty the two naughty rascals sneaked
softly down. Tom craWled into the
box and Teddy shut the lid down tight
on him II was little uncomfortable,
and his head pressed hard against the
top. but there was plenty OF air let IN
through the cracks
Now III go and collect Tottie and
Binkie and Tessie and any others L
can find" whispered Teddy at the box
A muffled albright" was heard. then
there was silence as Teddy disappeared
Tommy inside OF the box heard some
one coming Won't see me here" he
said to himself But would hate to
have the deacon know that we broke
off the head Mother would spank US
both surely" He pricked up his ears.
there came sound Of many footsteps.
but not the ones for which he was
awaiting. These were heavy, and the
voices were deep and rolling-his fur
stood up on end and his Whiskers
trembled-his mother and the deacon
were coming into the room
oh. If they should open this box
he thought would be lost I can't
help springing out" he listened. they
were speaking-"Yes. this is the pres
ent I bought for Tom and Ted" the
deacon was saying And" Tom heard
him step nearer. Here It is" He
touched the spring-the lid flew IN
and 70 MS horror out IleW Tommy
Tabby and landed squarely On his head.
"BOOh.' shouted Tommy. untangling
himself. making his escape over the
poor old deacon. who was fiat on his
back by this time. 1t all happened so
quickly that the old cat scarcely knew
what had happened He sat upon the
floor and took out his handkerchief.
1T must be broken" he said. moppina.
his face. 7 thought that the head came
off and hit me" Mrs Tabbv helDed
him to his feet but said nothing. Ii
would never do to let the deacon know
what had really happened. He was
like a father 20 the Tabby family, and
Mrs. Tabby did not want him to be
insulted-
The deacon looked about unsteadily.
Why. thought I saw Tommy in here"
he said in a very bewildered fashion.
But all that Mrs Tabby said was.
We'll, he was here. but he went out
suddenly Then she stopped a mo-
ment-was it Tom or Teddy whom she
had SEEM She said gOodby 20 the old
man cat thOughtfully. and as she came
up the walk she said to herself
Which one was it,"
4 never can be sure" she said as
she pulled a switch from the peach
tree, so I viii be ready TO spank both
OF them the minute they show their
faces"