The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-16
LITTLE FIRST FOOT
BY MOLLY MINISTER.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Copyright. 1915, by ths Mcclure NewspL-
papsr Syndicate.)
Upon the first morning of the New
Year Dean Richmond had awakened
to find small black kitten prowling
lnquisitively about her studio home.
Good luck!" was Deans first
thought. 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, and
left her studio each morning sharp at
$3.50 O'clock
I've kitten. which Dean called First
Foot. was sleek and a daintily clean
little lady kitten. 1t would not have
beer dtalcult for her to find lodgings
in ths Bohemian section where black
cats we're considered the best of luck.
The little collar with which Dean
imneffately made her ownership GER
tain Vas black leather. The name in
scribed on the tiny silver tag was
First Foot since she had been the
frst little visitor to put foot over
Deans threshold in the new year.
First Foot had been a part Of the
studio life for some five weeks be-
fore she brought down the wrath of
her mistress upon her own sleek
head
Upon picking Up the kitten for her
evening nap in Deans lap the girl had
smelled tobacco. Upon examination
she made the discovery that her pet
was reeking of the noxious fumes.
You disgraceful little lady" ad-
monished Dean while she went to the
kitchen 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 might Dean found
her erstwhile perfumed pet reeking of
tobacco smoke. There was no good
in scolding. Dean finally accepted the
tobacco as a part OF her troubles She
did. however, tie huge pink bow on
the neck OF her cat and saturated i:
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 YES well begun.
When John Rogers finished par
ticularly good story and determined
to try It on the editor of the Good
year Magazine he dipped First
Fonts paw into the inkstand and
made her imprint on his manuscript
So that when the story passed through
the hands Of the readers and found
its way to the editor of the Good
year." Dean Richmond found herself
smiling at the imprint Of cats raw
on the manuscript awaiting her judg-
ment.
| in the evening she found herself
examining First Foot's paw. Her
amaxement was very genuine when
she discovered THAT her pots foot wae
sticky and that close scrutiny revealed
dried ink en- the little toes.
$50" unused Dean. the person who
blows tobacco smoke all over my
lovely kitten and the author Of Stag
nation are one and the same being
She FELL 70 Specializing an to the man'e
personality "He.sssurediv is human
ard ! would say-Gfather charming"
When John Rogers received the lit
tic, black visitor that morning he
glanced amusedly at the extra large
pink ribbon on her neck.
"You have an extravagant mistress.
little lucky lady" he said. "she would
never do for the wife of struggling
author" II the cat disagreed she
could not say so. Rogers petted First
Foot and dislodged the note Dean
Richmond had concealed in the bow.
1.-THE plot thickens." laughed he. and
opened the letter, "The editor of
Goodyear will see you tomorrow at
ten o'clock" he read aloud. I'm
hanged! How in thunder" Rogers
ran his fingers through his hair and
gazed queetioningly at First Foot.
who only went to sleep. having de-
livered her message.
II was the perfume that reached
Rogers 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 II
seemed accusinsiy. are the mistress
of First Foot"
IT am" laughed Dean. but how do
you know"
The kitten reeks Of that same
scent" he told her.
IT il far better than reeking Of 70.
bacco." flashed Dean.
Rogers flushed guiltily MY pipe
h rather strong" Then. you must
live near. very near to me-" he added
quickly. and there was Q shamele-s
suggestion Of Joy in his eyes.
"Yes-it 10 strange. isn't it,"
DELIGHTFULLY."- strange" agreed Rog.
ers. II wish First Foot knew the ex.
tent Of the luck she had brought me.
I sell q story for $3.50 and realize that
| ] have q neighbor whom +"
II am very busy" Dean said swift.
ly. trying to overcome the timidify
that had swept her lashes down.
Rogers only laughed and watched
the color sweeping steal'hily into the
cheeks Of the editor OF Goodyear
i First Foot is a lucky cat" he ru
minated on the way home. and |
once informed her that her mistress
would not make a good wife for a
j STRUGGLING author. Humnh," n ann