The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-18
The Euening Story
little First Foot.
by Molly McMaster.


Year Dean Richmond had awakened
to find a small black kitten proving
inquisitively about her studio home.
"Good luck.' was Deans first
thought, and the kitten, realizing that
she was being summoned, strolled
over with bumped back to receive a
| caress.
| lived alone in the Bohemian section
of the city. where the stables had
| been converted into wonderful stu
dfos with trailing vines rambling over
windows and springing up through
cobb1estones. Dean was an editor on
one of the better magazines, and left
her studio each morning sharp at
$3.50 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 affectionately re-
ceiyed. She was black and sleek and
a daintily clean little lady kitten. 1t
would not have been difficult for her
to find 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
first little visitor to put foot over
Deans threshold in the new year.
First Foot's maintenance was rather
simple. Milk was left on the floor
each morning, and the door was ar
inches open so that the kitten could
come and go 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 as she went to bus
mess, were slipped within and her
studio was nicely aired instead OF
stuffy as was her office Having little
of value in her possession Dean wor-
ried not a particle as to who might be
DESTROYS of entering her studio. The
Bohemian settlement, if 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, it was good to see the black
kitten rise, stretch, yawn and come
forward purring by way OF greeting;
The absolute lack of intellect expected
from the companionship made 1T a de-
1ightfu1 rest after days toll.
First Foot had been part of the
studio life for some five weeks before
she brought down the wrath of her
mistress upon her own sleek head.
Upon picking the kitten up for her
evening nap in Deans lap the girl had
smelled tobacco. Upon examination
she made the discovery that her pet
You disgraceful little lady, adj
Dean while she went to the
kitchen for brush and soap and toilet
water You have been visiting the
den of some gentleman
And since First Foot continued to
revel in brushing and fondling it 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 perfumed pet reeking of
smoke. There was no good in
First Foot purred happily on
accepted the tobacco as part of her
troubles. She did, however, tie huge
pink bow on the neck of her cat and
saturated it 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. After that he put
milk in a saucer, placed the saucer on
his writing table and wrote many stor-
les while First Foot lay on his table,
slightly amused at the
swiftly rushing pencil and more often
sleeping.
When John Rogers finished a par
-icuIarly good story and determined |
to try it on the editor of the Good
year Magazine" he talked long and
I'VE need the money badly" he |
said. eff we are to buy our type |
writer we must sell this story. If you |
1on't bring me luck I will lose my
'aith in OmenS.'
1t was John Rogers habit to dip
First Foot's paw into the inkstand 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 editorial offices. "Eccen-
-ricities of genius was the thought it
had evoked
So that the story having passed
through the hands of the readers and
found it's way to the editor of the
Goodyear" Dean Richmond found
herself smiling at the imprint of a
cats paw on the manuscript awaiting
her judgment.
She Immediately thought of First
Foot, but did not connect the two cats
N her musings. Fhe story was excel
ent. The cats paw had worked the
charm and Dean put the story among
accepted ones.
In the evening she was reminded of