The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-18

/ the peculiar sign on the manuscript
she had received and only half con-
| sciously found herself examining First
| Foot's paw. Her amazemnet was very
genuine when she discovered that her
pets foot was sticky and that close
scrutiny revealed dried ink on the
little toes.
49," unused Dean, ss.the person who
blows tobacco smoke all over my love-
ly kitten and the author of 'Stagna-
ton are one and the same being" She
| Tell to speculat1ng as to the mans per-
sonality. He assuredly is human
and 1 would say-rather charming"
For long time she pondered over the
strange happenings or the world. 1t
\ was not especially a work of the fic-
| ton world-this straying of her cat to
| the den of an author, but it was a
trifle extraordinary that the mans
story should come to her hands; that
her perfume was no doubt as obnox-
1ous to the authors senses as was his
tobacco to her own. The little cats
paw on the manuscript was a link in
the chain that was to draw author and
| editor together.
| After nights sleep Dean decided
to fling trifle of the mysterious into
| her dealings with John Rogers. I'm
| doubtedly he knew as little of First
| roots mistress as she knew of him.
| 1t would be a bit funny to send a note
on First Foot's bow if only to see
what happened.
When John Rogers received the lit
bue piack visitor that morning he
glanced amusedly at the extra large
PINK ribbon on her neck.
GU nave an extravagant mistress,
little lucky lady" he said. 'She would
never do for the wife of a struggling
| author" If the cat disagreed she
could not say so. Rogers petted First
Foot and dislodged the note Dean
Riohmond had concealed in the bow.
fhe plot thickens,'' laughed he,
and opened the letter. THE editor of
goodyear will see you tomorrow at
~ O'Clock, he read aloud. I'm
hanged! How in thunder! Rogers
ran his fingers through his hair and
gazed questioningly at First Foot, who
only went to sleep, having delivered
her message.
Nonplussed, but willing to be en-
editorial rooms of the GOODYEAR
Magazine" fully expecting to meet a
man.
Dean Richmond was, however. ul-
tra-feminine and rejoiced when Rog-
ers'S card was handed to her She
was femlnlnely curious to meet him.
She had broken strict office habit
for the first time in her career and
had put drop of scent on her blouse
1t was the perfume that reached
Rogers's senses while they were dis
cussing the merits of his story and the
size of the check he was to get.
you" he said suddenly, and it
seemed accusingly, ARE the mistress
of First Foot"
am, laughed Dean, but how do
you know?'
''The kitten reeks of that same
SCENT he told her.
1T is far better than reeking of
tobacco" flashed Dean.
Rogers flushed guiltily. my pipe
is rather strong" Then, You must
live near, very near to me- he added
quickly, and there was a shameless
suggestion of joy in his eyes.
Yes-it is strange, isn't it ?"
DELIGHTFULLY."- strange" agreed Rog-
ers. 81 wish First Foot knew the ex-
tent of the luck she had brought me.
I sell a story for $3.50 and realize that
I have a neighbor whom L"
II am very busy" Dean said swiftly,
trying to overcome the timidity that
had swept her lashes down.
Rogers only laughed and watched
the color sweeping Stealthily into the
cheeks of the editor of Goodyear"
'fFirst Foot is lucky cat,'' he ru-
minated on the way home, land I
once informed her that her mistress
would not make good wife for a
struggling author. Humphi" a soft
whimsical smile played about Rogers's
lips smile of self contradiction
Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)