The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-26
LITTLE FIRST FOOT
BY MOLLY MINISTER.

Copyright. 1916 by the Mcclure Newspa-
paper Syndicate.)
Upon the first morning of the New
Year Dean Richmond had awakened
to find small black kitten prowling
inquisitively 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.
The kitten. which Dean called First
Foot, was sleek and daintily clean
little lady kitten. 1t would not have
been difficult 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
scribed on the tiny silver tag was
First Foot" since she had been the
first little visitor to put foot over
Ivan . NhlCSuOAu LILO uCW yCdIs
First Foot had been a part Of the
studio life for some Ave weeks be-
fore she brought down the wrath Of
her mistress upon her own sleek
head.
Upon picking us 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
,he visits. for each night Dean found
Aer erstwhile perfumed pet reeking Of
tobacco smoke There was no good
In scolding. Dean finally accepted the
tobacco as part Of her troubles. She
did, however. tie huge pink bow on
the neck Of her cat and saturated 1t
with Wild Rose scent.
1.-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
cat came silently into his den he
arose, stroked her head and felt that
the day was we'll begun.
When John Rogers finished a par
ticularly good story and determined
to try 1t on the editor Of the Good.
year Magazine" he dipped First
Foot's 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
It's way to the editor of the Good
year." Dean Richmond found herself
smiling at the imprint Of a cats paw
on the manuscript awaiting her judg
, ment.
In the evening she found herself
examining First Foots paw. Hell
Amusement was very genuine wher
= she discovered that her pets foot wal
. sticky and that close scrutiny revealed
!. dried ink on the little toes.
80" unused Dean. tho person WHIT
3 blows tobacco smoke all over m!
r lovely kitten and the author Of Stag
. nation are one and the same being.
4 She fell to specializing a. to the man.
personality. "He assuredly Is human
l and would say-rather charming"
When John Rogers received the lit
tie black visitor hat morning h
glanced amusedly at the extra larg'
pink ribbon on her neck.
J. "You have an extravagant mistress
l. little lucky lady," he said. "She woult
never do for the wife Of strugglinl
author" II the cat disagreed sh'
could not say so. Rogers petted FRS
a Foot and dislodged the note Deal
s Richmond had concealed in the bow.
d "The plot thickens." laughed he, an
v opened the letter. "The editor o
Goodyear will see you tomorrow a
g ten o'clock" he read aloud. "I'n
n hanged! How in thunder" Roger
d ran his fingers through his hair an
gazed questioningly at First Foo
q who only went to sleep. having d.
n livered her message.
D. II was the perfume that reache
Rogers senses while they we're dill
a cnssing the merits of his story an
n the size Of the check he was to get.
Is "You," he said suddenly, and
r seemed accusingly, ARE the mistres
Of First Foot"
Q, 81 am" laughed Dean, "but how d
le ycu know"
1t THE kitten reeks of that sam
Il SCENT" he told her.
y. ut is far better than reeking Of Il
: bacco," flashed Dean.
ir Rogers flushed guiltily. my pip
II Is rather strong" Then. you mui
at live near. very near to me-" he adde
n. quickly, and there was a shameless
suggestion of Joy in his eyes.
?" "Yes-it is strange. isn't it,"
DELIGHTFULLY."- strange" agreed Ro
X ers. 81 wish First Foot knew the e
ID tent of the luck she had brought m
le I sell a story for $3.50 and realize thi
" have q neighbor whom +"
d. 81 am very busy" Dean said swii
- ly, trying to overcome the timidi'
!" that had swept her lashes down.
Rogers only laughed and watcht
y. the color sweeping stealthily into Il
90 cheeks Of the editor Of Goodyear"
10 First Foot is a lucky cat" he r
- minated on the way home. "and
once informed her that her mistre
-. would not make good wife for
!, struggling author Humph!" a so
whimsical smile played about Ro
~ ers' lips. A smile Of self-contiad