The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-18
DAILY SHORT STORY.
LITTLE FIRST FOOT.

iComnS,is My

~ MOLLY McMA>TER.
| tcoTvrs,is. is.D
Upon the first morning o. tie New
Year Dean Richmond had awakened 70
ind a small black kitten proving In.
| quisitively about her studio home.
Good luck was Deans first thought
| and the kitten realizing that she was
| being summoned strolied over with
bumped back to receive a caress
They were friends At once. Dean lived
-, alone in the Bohemian section Of the
city. where the stables had been con-
verified into wonderful studios with
and springinS up through cobblestones.
Dean was an editor on one of tn" bet
ter magazines, and left her studio each
morning sharp at $50 o'clock.
The black kitten which Dean called
First Foot was a waif OF the feline
world who was willing to live wher-
ever she was most aRectionately re-
ceived. She was black and sleek and
a daintily clean little lady kitten. It
would not have been dimcult for her
to ind lodgings in the Bohemian sec.
ton where black cats were considered
the best of luck.
The little collar with which Dean
Immediately made her ownership GER
tain was black leather. The name In
scribed on the tiny silver tag was
First Foot" since she had been
the Arst little visitor to put foot over
Deans threshold In the new year.
First Foots maintenance was rather
simple. Milk was left on the floor
each morning. and the door was ar
ranged with q bar locking IL 4 few
inches open SO that the kitten could
come and 60 at will Dean had en-
ployed the slightly open door since she
had taken the position As editor and
was forced to leave her studio during
the day. Her provisions. which she
ordered ~ she went to business were
slipped within and her studio was nice
ly aired instead Of stuny a. wasx her
ONCE. Having little OF value in her
possession Dean worried not . particle
as to who might be DESTROYS enter
ing her studio. The Bohemian settle
ment, II burglars were discriminating,
was the least likely to be troubled In
any case.
First Foot completed a most happy
domicile for Dean. Coming home tired.
her head swimming with plots and
stories. 1t was good to see the black kit
ten rise. stretch. yawn aud come for
ward purring by way OF greeting The
absolute lack Of intellect expected from
the companionship made II q delightful
rest after a days toll.
First Foot had been a part OF tho
studio life for some i've weeks before
she brought down the wrath Of he mis-
tress upon her own sleek head.
upon PICKING the kitten up Ter ne.
evening nap IN Deahs zap tne e-H nao
smeiied TOBACCO. upon examination shs
made the discovery that her pet was
reeking of the noxious fumes.
You disgraceful little lady," adnon-
ished Dean while she went to the kitch-
en- Tor brush and soap ana toilet water.
You nave Deen Sispihs the uen OF some
gentleman.
And since First Foot continued 10 reVei
in brushing ana fondiing II was evident
that her reputation bothered her not one
Jot
That proved to be only the first OF the
visits. for each night Dean found her
erstwhile periumed pet reekins OF tooac-
ing. First Foot purred happily on dur
ing the TRADES and Dean finally accepted
the tobacco as a part OF her troubles.
she did. however lie huge PINK DOW
on the neck OF her cat and saturated 1t
with wild rose scent.
The guilty man may take hint.
was her inward hope.
But the guilty man did not take the
hint. Each day when the small black
~--~''~'S
stroked her head and felt that the day
was well begun. After that he put milk
in a saucer. placed the saucer on his
writing table and wrote many stories
while First Foot lay on his table. some
times slightly amused at the swiftly
rushing pencil and more often sleeping.
When John Rogers finished a particu-
larry good story and determined to try
it on the editor OF the Goodyear Maya
zine. ne talked long and earnestly to
First Foot.
We need the money badly" he said.
1T We are to buy our typewriter We
must cell this story. II you don't bring
me luck I Will lose my faith In omens"
II was John Rogers ha bit 70 dip First
Foots paw into the mustard and make
her imprint on his manuscript. So far
the sign seemed to have been lucky
Rogers had sold many stories since the
advent OF the cat The small black cats
paw became rather well known in edi-
torial offices. "Eccentrict.ies Of genius -
was the thought IL had evoked.
So that the story having passed
the hands Of the RAIDERS and found its |
way 10 the edito, of the GOODYEAR Dean
Richmond found herself smiling At the
irnprfn, Of CATS nav IN the manu-
scrin, aw,,tiny har ;ud~r,.n,