The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-04-30
LITTLE FIRST foot


Year Dean Richmond nad aWAk6neo
to find q small black kitten prowling
Inquisitiyely about her studio home
Good luck!" was Deans hrst
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 It
$3.50 o'clock. 7
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
Deans threshold IN the new year
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 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" adj
monished Dean while she went 10 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 oil
the visits. for each night Dean found
her erstwhile perfumed pet reeking oil
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 onl
the neck of her cat and saturated I'll
with Wild Rose scent
"The guilty man may take q 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 parI
ticularly good story and determined
to try It 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
its way to the editor OF the Good
year. Dean Richmond found herself
smiling at the imprint Of cats paw
on the manuscript awaiting her jude
ment.
In the evening she found hersel
examining First Foot's paw. He
amazement was very genuine whelf
she discovered that her pets foot wal
sticky and that close scrutiny revealed
dried ink on the little toes.
49," mused Dean, 'the person who
blows tobacco smoke all over my
lovely kitten and the author Of Stag
nation are ole and the same being"
She fell to specializing as to the mans
personality. HE assuredly is human
and | would say--rather charming"
When John Rogers received the lit
tie black visitor that morning he
glanced amusedly at the extra large
pink ribbon on her neck,
you have an extrayagant mistress,
little lucky lady" he said She would
never do for the wife OF struggling
II the cat disagreed she
could not say so. Rogers petted First
Foot and dislodged the note Dean
Richmond had concealed in the bow.
"The plot thickens." laughed he. and
opened the letter. "The editor Of
Goodyear will sec you tomorrow at
ten O'clock" he read aloud. I'm
hanged! How In thunder" Rogers
ran his fingers through his hair and
gazed questioningly at First Foot,
who only went to sleep. having de-
ivered her message.
II was the perfume that reached
Rogers senses while they were dis
russing the merits Of his story and
The size Of the check he was to get
"You," he said suddenly, and IL
seemed accusingly, ARE the mistress
)f First Foot"
Il am laughed Dean. but how do
you know"
"The kitten reeks of that sans
SCENT" he told her.
ut is far better than reeking Of to-
,acco,' flashed Dean.
Rogers flushed guiltily. "My pipe
8 rather strong" Then, you must
i've near, very near to me-" he added
quickly, and there was a shameless
of Joy in his eyes.
"Yes-it is strange, isn't it?"
Delightfully."- strange" agreed Rog.
'rs. II wish First Foot knew the eS-
ent OF the luck she had brought mo
sell story for $3.50 and realize that
have a neighbor whom Il"
Il am very busy" Dean said swift
=. trying to overcome the tlmidity
hat had swept her lashes down.
Rogers only laughed and watched
he color sweeping stealthily into the
heeks of the editor Of Goodyear"
First Foot is lucky cat" he ru-
minated on the way home, "and
nee Informed her that her mistress
would not make good wife for