The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-19
LITTLE FIRST FOOT
BY MOLLY MINISTER,

=
paper Syndicate)
9 upon the first morning of the Ne
Year Dean Richmond had awakene
!, to find small black kitten prowlin
nquisitively about her studio hom,
GOOD Nluck!" was Deans frs
mought. They were friends at once.
Dean lived alone in the Bohemia
section Of the city. She was an edito
: on one Of the better magazines. an
!eit her studio each morning sharp a
$3.50 o'clock.
The kitten, which Dean called EYrs
root was sleek and a daintily cleal
ittie lady kitten. 1t would not hay,
oeen difficult for her to find Lodgings
IN the Bohemian section where blacl
cats were considered the best of luck
The little collar with which Dear
Immediately made her ownership Ger
tam was black leather The name in
scrioed on the tiny silver tag was
First Foot" since she had been the
nrst little visitor to put foot owe,
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 ur the kitten for her
evening nap in Deans lap the girl had
smelled 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
Kitchen for brush and soap and, toilet
water You have been visiting the
der OF some gentleman"
mat proved to be only the first of
me visits, for each night Dean found
aer erstwhile perfumed pet reeking Of
.oDacco smoke. There was no good
IN scolding. Dean finally accepted the
topacco as part of her troubles. She
nld, however, tie huge pink bow on
the 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 well begun.
When John Rogers finished q mar.
ticularly good story and determined
to 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.
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 a cats nav
on the manuscript awaiting her judg.
ment.
In the evening she found herself
examining First Foots paw. Her
amazement was very genuine when
sne discovered that her pets foot was
sticky and that close scrutiny revealed
1ried Ink on the little toes.
80" unused Dean, "the person who
blows tobacco smoke all over nv
ovely kitten and the author of Stag.
latlon are one and the same being"
she fell to specializing as to the mans
personality. HE assuredly is human
IND would say-rather charming"
When John Rogers received the III.
le black visitor hat morning he
glanced amusedlv at the extra large
link ribbon on her neck
You have an extravagant mistress.
title lucky lady" he said. "She would
ever do for the wife of a struggling
uthor." II the cat disagreed she
ould not say SO. Rogers petted First
DOT and dislodged the note Dean
'ichmond had concealed in the bow.
The plot thickens." laughed he. and
pened the letter. "The editor Of
goodyear will see you tomorrow at
IN o'clock" he read aloud. I'm
anged! How in thunder" Rogers
IN his fingers through his hair and
azed questioningly at First Foot.
no only went to sleep, having de.
vered her message.
1t was the perfume that reached
ogers' senses while they were dis. ,
'ssing the merits Of his story and
le size Of the check he was to get. +
YOU" he said suddenly, and It
'emed accusingly, ARE the mistress :
First Foot"
I am" laughed Dean, "but how do !.
VI know"
The kitten reeks of that same
ent." he told her.
1T is far better than reekine Of to.
Geo." flashed Dean.
Rogers flushed guiltily. "My pipe
rather strong" Then, you must a
e near, very near to me-" he added
ickly. and there was a shameless s.
question Of Joy in his eyes.
"Yes-it is strange, isn't IT." t.
DELIGHTFULLY."- strange" agreed Rog.
). I wish First Foot knew the ex- m
At OF the luck she had brought me.
ell a story for $3.50 and realize that
lave neighbor whom l." ii
i am very busy" Dean said swift
trying to overcome the timidity h
It had swept her lashes down. m
Rogers only laughed and watched
color sweeping stealthily into the In
eeks OF the editor Of Goodyear" al
First Foot is a lucky cat" he m. pr
mated on the way home, land I ar
GO Informed her that her mistress tn
uld not make a good wife for a ar
juggling author. Humph!" a soft,
imsicai smile played about Roe. as
) lips. A smile Of self.contradic- fol
q.
- k.'