The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-07
LITTLE FIRST FOOT
BY MOLLY MINISTER.

paper Syndlcate.)
: upon the first morning of the New
, rear Dean Richmond had awakene,
/ 10 nnd a small black kitten prowlin,
hqulsitively about her studio home
, Good luck." was Deans frs
mougnt. They were friends at once.
Dean lived alone in the Bohemian
section OF the city. She was an editor
On one OF the better magazines, anG
.eit ner studio each morning sharp al
$3.50 o'clock.
The kitten, which Dean called FRS,
root' was sleek and a daintily clean
itue iady kitten. It would not have
oeen dimcult for her to find lodgings
In the Bohemian section 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.
scr1oed on the tiny silver tag was
FIRST Foot" since she had been the
nrst little visitor to put foot over
Deans threshold in the new year.
FIRST Foot had been a part OF the
stuolo life for some five weeks be-
lore she brought down the wrath Of
ner mistress upon her own sleek
head.
Upon picking up the kitten for her
evening nap in Deans lap the girl had
smeiied tobacco. Upon examination
sne made the discovery that her net
was reeking Of the noxious fumes.
you disgraceful little lady" ad.
monished Dean while she went To the
kitcnen for brush and soap and toilet
water. You have been visiting the
den Of some gentleman"
That proved to be only the first OF
me visits, for each night Dean found
aer erstwhile perfumed pct reekine Of
.ooacco smoke There was no good
IN scolding. Dean firally accepted the
topacco as part Of her troubles. She
nid, however, tie a huge pink bow on
me neck of her cat and saturated II
with Wild Rose scent
The guilty man may take a hint"
was her inward hope.
But the guilty man did not take the
hint Each day when the small black
cat came silently into his den he
arose, stroked her head and felt that
the day was we'll begun.
When John Rogers finished mar.
ticularly good story and determined
70 try 1t on the editor OF the Good.
year Magazine" he Dipped First
roots paw into the inkstand and
made her imprint on his manuscript.
80 that when the story passed through
the hands of the readers and found
us way to the editor Of the Good
year,, Dean Richmond found herself
smiling at the imprint Of a cats nav
On the manuscript awaiting her judg.
ment.
In the evening she found herself
examining First Foot's paw. Her
was very genuine when
The discovered that her pets foot was
'tlcky and that close scrutiny revealed
lried Ink on the little toes.
&c." unused Dean. "the person who
flows tobacco smoke all over nv
ovely kitten and the author Of stag.
lation are one and the same being" ,
inc fell to speculating as to the mans /
personality. "He assuredly is human ,
nd would say-rather charming"
When John Rogers received the III. 8
10 black visitor hat morning he a
lanced amusedly At the extra large
Ink ribbon on her neck. T
You have an extravagant mistress.
tile lucky lady," he said. "She would n
ever do for the wife of a struggling .
uthor" II the cat disagreed she
ould not say so. Rogers petted First n
DOT and dislodged the note Dean
lchmond had concealed in the bow |,
inc plot thickens," laughed he, and o
pened the letter. THE editor of
GOODYEAR will see you tomorrow at n
N O'clock" he read aloud. "rm J,
anged! How in thunder" Rogers
IN his fingers through his hair and =,
Ned questioningly at First Foot, II
no only went to sleep, having de. in
Vered her message. ~
II was the perfume that reached
oeers' senses while they were dis.
lssing the merits Of his story and .,
Q size Of the check he was to get
YOU" he said suddenly, and II
emed accusingly. ARE the mistress 10
First Foot" ~
Il am" laughed Dean. but how do -
u know"
The kitten reeks of that same o.
ent." he told her. ~
IF Ia far hotfap 49,
Geo." flashed Dean.
Rogers flushed guiltily. my nine Of,
rather strong" Then, you must 70
e near. very near to me-" he added "a
ickly, and there was a shameless o.
question Of Joy in his eyes. 10 no
'Yes-it is strange, isn't it," ~,
Dellghtfully strange" agreed Roe.
!. wish First Foot knew the ex. 70,
II OF the luck she had brought me. oh,
Gil story for $3.50 and realize that o..
ave neighbor whom +" -
I am very busy" Dean said swift xo
irving to overcome the timiditv
I had swept her lashes down. an
soeers only laughed and watched ~
color sweeping stealthily into the ~,
'eks of the editor Of Goodyear.
FIRST Foot is lucky cat" he m. ~.
lated on the way home. "and
q Informed her that her mistress =.
lid not make good wife for a '.
iggiing author. Humph!" a soft, -
lmsical smile played about Ror. ne
lips. A smile of self-contradic. sal 90,
dor
M1 knS